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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2a0c6d9 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #52351 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/52351) diff --git a/old/52351-8.txt b/old/52351-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index d8f0f91..0000000 --- a/old/52351-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,7752 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Square and Compasses, by Oliver Optic - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - -Title: Square and Compasses - Or Building the House - -Author: Oliver Optic - -Release Date: June 16, 2016 [EBook #52351] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SQUARE AND COMPASSES *** - - - - -Produced by Chris Curnow, Martin Pettit and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - -_The Boat-Builder Series._ - - -I. -ALL ADRIFT; -OR, -THE GOLDWING CLUB. - -II. -SNUG HARBOR; -OR, -THE CHAMPLAIN MECHANICS. - -III. -SQUARE AND COMPASSES; -OR, -BUILDING THE HOUSE. - -IV. -STEM TO STERN; -OR, -BUILDING THE BOAT. - -V. -ALL TAUT; -OR, -RIGGING THE BOAT. - -VI. -READY ABOUT; -OR, -SAILING THE BOAT. - - -[Illustration: "The stem of the Winooski struck the bow of the -Chesterfield barge."--Page 68.] - - - - -OLIVER OPTIC'S - -BOAT-BUILDER SERIES. - - -SQUARE AND COMPASSES. - -BOSTON, -LEE AND SHEPARD -PUBLISHERS. - - -_THE BOAT-BUILDER SERIES_ - -SQUARE AND COMPASSES - -OR - -BUILDING THE HOUSE - -BY - -OLIVER OPTIC - -AUTHOR OF "YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD," "THE GREAT WESTERN -SERIES," "THE ARMY AND NAVY SERIES," "THE WOODVILLE - SERIES," "THE STARRY FLAG SERIES," "THE BOAT-CLUB - STORIES," "THE ONWARD AND UPWARD SERIES," - "THE YACHT-CLUB SERIES," "THE LAKE-SHORE - SERIES," "THE RIVERDALE SERIES," "ALL - ADRIFT," "SNUG HARBOR," ETC., ETC. - -With Illustrations - -BOSTON -LEE AND SHEPARD PUBLISHERS -NEW YORK CHARLES T. DILLINGHAM - - -_Copyright_, -1884, -BY LEE AND SHEPARD. - -_All Rights Reserved._ - -SQUARE AND COMPASSES. - - -TO - -MY YOUNG FRIEND, - -ROBERT M. BAKER, - -THIS BOOK - -IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED. - - - - -PREFACE. - - -"SQUARE AND COMPASSES" is the third volume of "THE BOAT-BUILDER SERIES." -All the characters connected with the Beech Hill Industrial School who -were presented in the preceding story will appear in the present issue. -In addition to these, the students of another educational institution, -on the other side of the lake, are introduced, as well as a gang of -ruffianly young marauders residing in the vicinity of the Champlain -mechanics. - -These additions to the acting force of the story are made, not merely -for the sake of the incidents and adventures to which their appearance -gives rise, but for the contrast between well-behaved mechanics and -ill-behaved gentlemen, and between boys well-trained and those not -trained at all, as in the example of the Topovers. - -It is true that the writer regards a reasonable amount of exciting -incident and adventure as necessary to hold the attention of his -readers, but he has never been satisfied to present only these. While -naked didactic pages covering the duties of young people are usually -skipped or favored with only a hasty glance, the moral quality of the -actions and speech of a favorite character may produce a deep impression -on the mind and heart of the reader. What the Good Samaritan or the -Unjust Steward said and did, convey lessons which simple precepts may -fail to impart. The moral of the writer's stories is in the words and -actions of the characters, and the contrast between the lives of the -good and those of the bad. - -The author adheres to the rule he has followed for the lifetime of a -generation: never to present bad characters in such a light as to win -the admiration and sympathy of the reader; and he still believes in the -old-fashioned practice of rewarding the good and punishing the evil in -the story. - -As in the last volume, it is a part of the writer's purpose to interest -young people in the mechanic arts, and to illustrate the results of good -discipline. He is a firm believer in Industrial Schools, whether public -or private, and is satisfied that our country has reached a stage in its -development when more attention than ever before must be given to -practical agriculture and the mechanic arts. He sincerely hopes the -present series will do something to promote the cultivation of a taste -in this direction, as well as to afford moral instruction and innocent -amusement. - -DORCHESTER, MASS., Aug. 20, 1884. - - - - -CONTENTS. - - -CHAPTER I. - - PAGE -SOME INDICATIONS OF A REBELLION 9 - - -CHAPTER II. - -AN IMPROMPTU RACE BETWEEN THE BEECH HILL BARGES 19 - - -CHAPTER III. - -DORY DORNWOOD ARGUES THE QUESTION 29 - - -CHAPTER IV. - -THE CHESTERFIELDS HANG OUT THEIR BANNERS 39 - - -CHAPTER V. - -JUST BEFORE THE BATTLE 49 - - -CHAPTER VI. - -THE COXSWAIN OF THE WINOOSKI INDULGES IN MORE STRATEGY 59 - - -CHAPTER VII. - -AN UNSATISFACTORY CONFERENCE ON THE WAVES 69 - - -CHAPTER VIII. - -THE CHESTERFIELDS SURRENDER THEIR BANNERS 79 - - -CHAPTER IX. - -A REBELLION IN THE SCHOOL-ROOM 89 - - -CHAPTER X. - -IMPORTANT TO BOY-ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS 99 - - -CHAPTER XI. - -DORY DORNWOOD CONFRONTS THE TOPOVERS 109 - - -CHAPTER XII. - -TOM TOPOVER HAS REASON TO BE ASTONISHED 119 - - -CHAPTER XIII. - -A VICTORY FOR THE TOPOVERS 129 - - -CHAPTER XIV. - -THE PURSUIT IN THE GOLDWING 139 - - -CHAPTER XV. - -THE SKIPPER USES A NAUTICAL LASSO 149 - - -CHAPTER XVI. - -COMMODORE TOM TOPOVER VISITS THE GOLDWING 159 - - -CHAPTER XVII. - -THE CHESTERFIELDS AND THEIR ALLIES RENEW THE BATTLE 169 - - -CHAPTER XVIII. - -DORY DORNWOOD DEALS IN MORAL COURAGE 179 - - -CHAPTER XIX. - -SOMETHING MORE ABOUT THE BEECH HILL REBELLION 189 - - -CHAPTER XX. - -THE VISITING COMMITTEE AT BEECH HILL 199 - - -CHAPTER XXI. - -THE ORATOR OF THE REBELS OBTAINS A HEARING 209 - - -CHAPTER XXII. - -BOLLY EXPLAINS THE PLANS FOR THE BOAT-HOUSE AND WHARF 219 - - -CHAPTER XXIII. - -VOLLEYS OF QUESTIONS ASKED AND ANSWERED 229 - - -CHAPTER XXIV. - -THE NEW CAPTAIN OF THE SYLPH 239 - - -CHAPTER XXV. - -THE FIRST OFFICER AND PARTY IN BATTLE ARRAY 249 - - -CHAPTER XXVI. - -THE RESULT OF THE BATTLE ON THE CAISSON 259 - - -CHAPTER XXVII. - -THE INTERVIEW BETWEEN THE TWO PRINCIPALS 269 - - -CHAPTER XXVIII. - -SOMETHING ABOUT FRAMING THE BOAT-HOUSE 279 - - -CHAPTER XXIX. - -THE STUDENTS USE THE SQUARE AND COMPASSES 289 - - -CHAPTER XXX. - -THE STUDENTS CELEBRATE THE COMPLETION OF THE - BUILDING OF THE HOUSE 299 - - - - -SQUARE AND COMPASSES; - -OR, - -BUILDING THE HOUSE. - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -SOME INDICATIONS OF A REBELLION. - - -"What's the use of wearing a uniform? We are not soldiers, and you are -not going to make soldiers of us, Captain Gildrock," said Ben Ludlow, -when the principal of the Beech Hill Industrial School announced, at the -close of the afternoon session, that the students would be required to -wear a peculiar dress. "I don't believe in being dressed up like a -monkey on a hand organ." - -"You can't always tell the monkey by the dress he wears, and some boys -insist upon being monkeys in whatever garb they appear," added the -principal; for he encouraged them to express their opinions in a -gentlemanly manner on all subjects. "Soldiers are not the only class -that wear uniforms. They are worn in the navy as well as in the army. I -think I have heard no objection from anyone to the sailor rig worn on -board of the Sylph." - -"I think it is all right when we are on board of the steamer; but who -wants to go about Genverres dressed up so that everybody will stop on -the sidewalk to look at him?" replied Ben, who spoke confidently, as -though he thought he had a first-rate argument. - -"As those who have opinions are expected to express them, I must say I -think Ludlow is right?" interposed Mr. Brookbine, the master-carpenter. -"I believe that, for plain republicans, we are getting altogether too -much uniform into our daily life. Why, all the conductors on the steam -and horse cars, all the telegraph boys, all the letter-carriers, all the -policemen, and in some cities even all the gas men, have to wear -uniforms." - -"It seems to me very proper that all you have mentioned should wear -uniforms," quietly returned the principal. - -"I don't think so," answered the carpenter stoutly. "It looks a little -too much like the fuss and feathers of monarchical countries for our -democratic institutions. I couldn't help laughing when I saw one of the -porters of the Bank of England dressed out like a lord high admiral, or -Sir Peter Teazle in the play." - -"Now you argue against the extravagance of uniforms, and not against -uniforms themselves," retorted the principal. "I am in favor of -uniforms, but not of ridiculous uniforms. Should you be willing to give -your ticket or money to anyone on the train that chose to ask for it, -Mr. Brookbine?" - -"I don't think I should," laughed the master-carpenter, as he saw the -point of the argument. "In fact I remember a case, before uniforms came -into fashion, where a smart chap went through a car, and collected -several dollars and a handful of tickets, and then left the train, -before the conductor put in an appearance. I will give it up on -conductors." - -"Not many years ago a villain got into a house in one of our large -cities, on the plea that he was a gas man; before he left it he had -committed a murder. Then the newspapers said the employés of the gas -company ought to wear uniforms, so that people could tell whom to admit -to their houses. I believe it is now the fashion in that city to wear -them. A shrewd boy in Burlington collected a dollar and a half from a -lady in the absence of her husband, by delivering her a bogus telegraph -despatch." - -"I never thought of the matter in this light before, captain," added Mr. -Brookbine. "If uniforms are of any use, I don't object to them, -certainly." - -"But we are not telegraph boys, gas men, or conductors," Ben Ludlow -objected. - -"No, you are not; but the other day two of our students went into a -saloon in Genverres, and each of them drank a glass of lager beer. I -don't believe they would have done it if they had worn the uniform of -the Beech Hill Industrial School." - -This statement produced a decided sensation among the students, and they -thought they understood the object which the uniform was expected to -accomplish. - -"I don't allow any boy to use intoxicating drinks while under my -control. If I can't prevent it, I will expel the pupil; for I will not -have his ruin on my conscience. I expect every student to have a proper -regard for the credit and honor of this school, and conduct himself, -wherever he may be, in such a manner as to cast no discredit or -dishonor upon it." - -Captain Gildrock spoke with more feeling than usual, and his remarks -made a deep impression upon the students. They promptly applauded what -he had said, thus indicating that they would respect the good name of -the institution. The principal did not check their demonstration on the -present occasion, and he seemed to be pleased with it. - -"The students of the Chesterfield Collegiate Institute, on the other -side of the lake, don't wear any uniform," suggested Ben Ludlow, who -realized that he had been thoroughly beaten in the argument. "Colonel -Buckmill, the principal of the Institute, says that gentlemen, such as -his pupils are, don't need uniforms." - -"Of course Colonel Buckmill has a perfect right to his own opinion on -this subject, as I have to mine," replied Captain Gildrock. "The -Chesterfields will wear no uniform, but the Beech Hill students will -wear a uniform. I think we need not argue the question any more. The -uniform is ready, and you will put it on in the morning. It is merely a -plain suit of blue, with our initials on the cap." - -Some of the boys did not like the idea of a uniform. Something had been -said about it before, and the topic had been discussed in the boats. A -few thought it interfered with their independence. It would enable every -person in the city to know them at sight. - -If they got into mischief, or visited improper places, the uniform would -betray them. The principal knew that two of them had drank beer in a -saloon: he did not say what further information he had on this subject, -and the students were not disposed to prolong the discussion in this -direction. - -Though they did not like to face the beer question, the boys were -disposed to be a little sullen over the new order. They had not been in -the school long enough to attain a very high state of discipline, and -most of them had wills of their own. A large proportion of them had been -in the habit of having their own way, and, to them, wearing a uniform -was about the same thing as being placed under guard all the time. - -"One thing more," interposed the principal, as the students were about -to leave the shop. "As I announced on the day the school was opened, I -intend to offer a prize for the best plan of a boat-house, to be -erected by the students on the border of Beech Hill Lake. I shall submit -the offer the first thing to-morrow morning, after you have put on your -uniforms." - -The boys had been very much interested in the proposed new house; not so -much on account of the accommodations it was to furnish them, as because -they were to build the house themselves. Not a few of them had already -considered plans for the structure, and the prizes would introduce a new -element of excitement. But somehow the announcement fell rather coldly, -and some of the pupils were more inclined to get up a rebellion against -the new uniform than to compete for the prize. - -Captain Gildrock left the shop, and went to the house. He could not help -seeing that there was a spirit of disaffection among the students. They -did not like the uniform, but the principal regarded it as a necessity, -for he believed it would correct some tendencies to rowdyism he had -observed among the boys, and especially that it would deter them from -entering any disreputable places. - -The boys went to the dressing-room, removed their overalls and jumpers, -and attended to their ablutions. Little knots of them conversed in low -tones about the uniform; but a considerable number of them were sure to -be loyal to the principal, and they were careful not to allow their -remarks to be heard by such pupils. - -The two twelve-oar barges, which had been provided by the principal and -brought up to the lake two weeks before, had not yet become an old -story. During the past fortnight the two crews had practised nearly -every day with the oars, and had made excellent progress. - -The two coxswains, Matt Randolph of the Gildrock, and Dory Dornwood of -the Winooski, had a conference after every trip in the boats in order to -determine what more was to be done for the improvement of the rowing. -Captain Gildrock and Luke Bennington often made suggestions to them, but -all instruction and discipline in the boats was left to the coxswains. -The principal never gave an order except through the proper officer. - -The instruction in swimming had been continued on every suitable day, -and, as the boys were deeply interested in this amusement, they soon -became very expert in the art. The timid ones obtained the necessary -confidence, and the shallow waters of Beech Hill Lake were abandoned -for those of Champlain itself. The boating and swimming were now -combined, and an excursion to Sandy Beach had been arranged for the day. - -"Hurry up, fellows; we haven't any too much time, for it is a four-mile -pull to Sandy Beach," said Matt Randolph, when he saw that the crew of -his boat were thinking of something besides the excursion. - -"I don't know that I care about going," replied Lew Shoreham, with a -cross-grained look. - -"Don't care about going?" exclaimed the coxswain of the Gildrock. "What -has come over you fellows?" - -"I don't like the idea of being dressed up like a monkey," answered Lew, -apparently fanning his discontent. - -"And all because a couple of fellows took a glass of beer each," added -Bob Swanton. - -"I should like to know how many fellows ever took any beer since they -joined the school," continued Lew Shoreham. "I never drank any for one." - -"I never tasted beer in my life," said Phil Gawner. - -"I never tasted it but once in my life, and then it made me as sick as a -horse," added Lick Milton. - -Several others gave their testimony to the same effect, or declared -that they had drank none since they joined the school. - -"I see you are trying to get up a rebellion," said Matt Randolph. "I -have drank lager beer a few times in New York, but not a drop since I -came to this school. I don't object to the uniform, and I think the -regulation requiring it is a very reasonable one. But I am not going to -jaw about it now. All the Gildrocks to the boat." - -"All the Winooskis to the boat," added Dory Dornwood. - -About two thirds of the students followed the coxswains to the lake. It -looked as though the other third intended to rebel at once, for they -remained in the dressing-room after the others had gone. - - - - -CHAPTER II. - -AN IMPROMPTU RACE BETWEEN THE BEECH HILL BARGES. - - -"Here are eight of us, and not one of the eight has touched any beer -since he joined the school," said Lew Shoreham, after the majority of -the boys had gone, and he had got the bearings of the question under -discussion. - -"I am in favor of standing out, for one," added Tom Ridley. "I am -willing to do my duty and obey all the rules, but I am not going to be -rigged out like a state-prison bird when I haven't done anything out of -the way." - -"It looks like punishing the whole crowd for the sins of the two fellows -who drank the beer," continued Harry Franklin. - -"If the captain knows who the fellows are, why don't he put them into -uniform, and not make black sheep of the whole of us?" - -"I don't believe in doing anything in a hurry," interposed Bart -Cornwall. "If we are going to stand out, we want to know what we are -about before we begin." - -"That's my idea," added Bob Swanton. "Let us understand what we are -going to do before we begin." - -"Perhaps we had better talk it over among ourselves before we do -anything," mused Lew Shoreham. "There is time enough before to-morrow -morning." - -"That's the idea," Life Windham chimed in. "The worst we can do is to -refuse to wear the uniform; and we can't refuse before the clothes are -given to us." - -"By the way, did you fellows hear that the Chesterfield students have -two barges like ours?" inquired Phil Gawner. - -"I know they have, for I saw the kid-glovers out in them," replied Lick -Milton. - -"When did you see them, Lick?" asked Lew Shoreham. - -"Day before yesterday. They were pulling in the barges near the shore." - -"The rest of the fellows will go off without us if we don't hurry up," -added Bart Cornwall. "Sandy Beach is not far from the Chesterfield -Institute." - -Phil Gawner bolted from the room in hot haste, and the other rebels -followed him. The rebellion seemed to be forgotten, for there was -already something like rivalry existing between the two educational -institutions on the opposite sides of the lake. The Chesterfield young -gentlemen, when they came within hailing distance of the boys of Beech -Hill, had taken occasion to manifest their contempt by words, signs, and -other demonstrations. They called the industrial school "The Tinkers' -Institute," and this term was exceedingly offensive to our boys. - -But the beautiful steam yacht in which the "Tinkers" voyaged on the -lake, and especially the magnificent twelve-oar barges in which they -sported upon the waves, excited the envy of the "Kid-Glovers." Colonel -Buckmill suddenly found his prestige slipping away from him. He had a -variety of boats for the use of his students, though none of them were -sailing craft. He was no sailor himself, and he had a mortal dread of -sailboats. - -As soon as he realized the state of feeling among his students, he -hastened to New York, where he succeeded in finding a couple of barges -like those which had been built for the Beech Hill school. He had -purchased them at a large price, and they had arrived a few days -before. Colonel Buckmill was a soldier and a gentleman, but he wished -that Captain Gildrock had located his fanciful school, as he regarded -it, a thousand miles from Lake Champlain. - -"What's the matter now?" demanded Matt Randolph, when the rebels rushed -out on the pier at which the two barges lay. "I thought you were going -to deprive us of the pleasure of your company to-day." - -"We have concluded to go with you, and keep you out of hot water," -replied Lew. - -"And keep yourselves out of hot water, which is more sensible," added -the coxswain of the Gildrock, as he seated his crew in the boat. - -"I thought you were not going for fear some one would see you and know -that you belong to the B. H. I. S.," added Will Orwell, with a laugh. - -"Up oars!" shouted Matt, when the crew of both boats were seated; and -the order was repeated by Dory. - -Ten oars in each boat went up to a perpendicular, with the flat side of -the blades parallel with the thwarts. The coxswains looked them over to -see that all were in proper position. - -"Shove off!" continued the coxswains. - -The bow oarsmen shoved off the head of each barge, and the stroke -oarsmen used their boathooks until the boats were clear of the pier. -Then the bowmen coiled up the painters, and the after oarsmen took care -of the stern lines. When they had done this duty, they elevated their -oars without any orders. - -"Let fall!" said Matt and Dory, when the boats were clear of the pier. -The crews had been so well trained that the twenty-four oars struck the -water at the same instant; but the loom, or part near the handle, of the -oars was not allowed to fall upon the rail, or into the rowlocks. They -are put in proper position after they are dropped. - -"Give way--together!" said Matt and Dory, when they had seen that each -oarsman was ready for the pull. - -All the rowers caught the stroke the first time trying, but it had taken -a great deal of practice to enable them to do so. The boys pulled a very -even, uniform, and steady stroke. All the oars were raised to the same -height above the water, and sunk to the same depth beneath its surface. - -The barges were not mere fancy craft, built for speed, and for nothing -else. Considering their great size they were very light, but they were -strongly built. They were constructed after a beautiful model, yet at -the same time they were good sea boats, able and safe. As the students -were liable to be caught on the other side of the lake in rough weather, -Captain Gildrock considered staunch boats as necessary on Lake Champlain -as on the ocean. The short, choppy sea of the fresh-water lakes is more -trying to any kind of a craft than the long waves of the Atlantic. - -The two barges darted down the lake as though they had been shot from a -gun. It was a cool day, with the wind fresh from the northwest, and the -crews were in just the right condition to do their best at the oars. -Since their recent defeat in the race, the first class had been working -hard to improve in rowing, and Matt Randolph had succeeded in imparting -his own enthusiasm to his crew. But nothing was said about another race, -for the first class meant to be sure before they risked another trial. -Dory Dornwood saw what the machinists--as they sometimes called the -higher class--were about, and he did not go to sleep. - -The boats passed through the narrow outlet into Beaver River, and the -Winooski appeared to have lost a length in coming down from Beech Hill -Lake. Dory watched the Gildrock, and soon discovered that she was -gaining on him. The other crew had been practising by themselves a good -deal lately, and it was evident that Matt Randolph had made a decided -improvement both in style and power in the work of his crew. - -Dory said nothing, and did not attempt to increase the speed of his -boat. At the mouth of the river the Gildrock was half a dozen lengths -ahead of him, and her crew seemed to be exerting themselves to widen the -distance between the two barges. The boys of the leading boat could see -the other all the time, while the Winooskis could not, for no rower was -allowed to look behind him. - -"The Gildrock is half a mile ahead of us!" exclaimed Life Windham, the -stroke oarsman of the Winooski; for the other boat had changed her -course to the southward, and a side glance had enabled him to see her. - -"Not so bad as that, Life," replied Dory, with a smile. - -"Don't let them beat us, Dory," added Ned Bellows, on the next thwart. - -"They have been getting ready to whip us," said Dick Short. "They have -been at work by themselves for the last week." - -"They have got about all the older and stouter fellows in the school, -and we must expect that they will beat us sometimes," replied Dory -philosophically. "But we have also been in training, and if they beat us -they have got to work for it." - -"But they are beating us!" exclaimed Life, as he got another glance at -the Gildrock. "Matt Randolph has been putting in some extra New York -touches, and it is all up with us." - -"Not yet," answered Dory quietly. "We have been taking it easy, and they -have been using their muscle. Wait a little." - -By this time every boy in the Winooski was aware that the Gildrock was -running away from them, and the fact vexed and annoyed them. If they -were beaten, even in a "scrub race," Dory would lose a portion of his -popularity. The coxswain watched the other boat, but he did nothing to -increase the speed of the Winooski. Some of the boys in the boat began -to grumble, though conversation was not allowed while rowing. - -"No talking in the boat, if you please, fellows," the coxswain -interposed, and the grumbling ceased. - -Dory could see that the Gildrocks were straining themselves to run away -from the Winooski. The first class fellows were not so far off that he -could not read the expression of their faces, and see the smiles of -satisfaction with which they regarded their advantage. He permitted them -to enjoy their victory, as they evidently regarded it, until they were -at least twenty-five lengths ahead. Matt Randolph frequently looked -behind him to note the position of his rival. - -All at once the oars of the Gildrock ceased to move, but every blade was -in proper position. Then came three rousing cheers from her crew, with a -tiger at the end. This was certainly crowing over the victory: The -Winooskis, except the coxswain, were vexed, and even angry. Some of them -began to grumble again; but Dory laughed, and called for silence in the -boat. The crew obeyed the order, for they had come to believe that Dory -knew what he was about "every time." - -His crew soon knew what he was about, for he straightened up his wiry -little frame, and then began to sway it back and forward to regulate the -stroke of the rowers. In a few minutes every muscle was strained up to -its utmost tension. The Winooski began to fly through the water. There -was quite a smart sea on the lake, which Dory took into account, and -humored the boat as it met the waves. - -The Gildrocks saw what Dory was doing, and Matt set his crew on the -strain again. At the end of a quarter of an hour the Gildrock was less -than a length ahead. The crew of the first class boat were in a terrible -state of excitement. They could see the other boat, and the effect upon -them was bad when the Winooski began to gain on them. The Gildrocks were -demoralized. - -In three minutes more the Winooski had passed the other barge. - -"Stand by to toss!" said Dory quietly. - -The complimentary salute was given, but the coxswain declined to call -for three cheers. - - - - -CHAPTER III. - -DORY DORNWOOD ARGUES THE QUESTION. - - -"How did we do it, Dory?" asked Life Windham, utterly astonished at the -result of the impromptu race, as were all the other members of the crew. - -"We did it by minding our own business," replied the coxswain, as much -pleased as though he had won a rich prize. - -"Can't we give them three cheers, Dory?" inquired Ben Ludlow. - -"No cheers, fellows," replied Dory, shaking his head to emphasize his -decision. - -"But the Gildrocks cheered when they got ahead of us," suggested Ben -Ludlow. - -"No matter if they did; it was bad taste, and they crowed before they -were out of the woods." - -"But I don't understand how it was that we happened to beat them," -persisted Life Windham. "As you said, they have most of the older and -stouter fellows in their crew." - -"They ought to beat us every time," added Ned Bellows. - -"Age and strength alone won't make the best rowers," replied Dory -sagely. "Some of the fellows in the other boat are rather heavy and -clumsy, and, without boasting, I believe they have not got the knack of -rowing well yet." - -"Do you think we have got the knack, Dory?" asked Phil Gawner. - -"I think we have got it better than the fellows in the other boat, -though we have a good deal to learn yet. You have more spring, -elasticity, than the other fellows. But, fellows, we beat them by -discipline. You grumble because I don't want you to talk and look behind -you; but you obeyed orders, and that's what did the business." - -"The first class fellows didn't talk or look behind them," said Life. - -"They had no occasion to look behind them, for they could see our boat -without," replied the coxswain. "When they saw us gaining on them they -were excited, and in a little while they got demoralized. You couldn't -see them, and you did your very best." - -"Matt Randolph is making a speech at them," said Dick Short, laughing. - -"He knows why he was beaten, and he is telling his crew about it," -added Dory. - -The coxswain of the Gildrock was certainly talking as though he "meant -business," for his words and his gestures were very earnest. He and Dory -had talked about the subject upon which Matt was at this moment -eloquent. Both agreed that if all the oarsmen could be blindfolded they -would do better in a race. It was the province of discipline to keep -them unmindful of success or defeat. - -"Stand by to lay on your oars!" called Dory suddenly, while his crew -were still watching the gesticulations of Matt Randolph. - -The crew of the Winooski, who had been pulling very leisurely for some -minutes, gave attention to their officer at once. - -"Oars!" added Dory: and, the moment he gave the word, the oars were -levelled at right angles with the length of the boat, with the blades -feathered. - -All the crew looked at the coxswain, wondering what was coming, for they -had taken a rest after the Gildrock was beaten, and were not in need of -another. This was the usual position of the crew when the officer had -anything to say, or any announcement to make. - -"Now you may look behind you, if you wish," continued Dory, with a -meaning smile. - -Every rower believed there was something to be seen, or the permission -would not have been given, and they all availed themselves of the -opportunity. - -"The kid-glovers afloat!" shouted Thad Glovering, in the bow. - -"Gentility on the wave!" exclaimed Life Windham. - -"The dudes in the spray!" added Jim Alburgh. - -"The exquisites on a racket!" cried Nat Long. - -"Dandies on the brine!" chuckled Ben Ludlow. - -"Fresh-water brine," added Dory. - -"They are pulling towards Sandy Beach," said Corny Minkfield. - -All these sarcastic remarks were called forth by the appearance ahead of -two barges, similar to those belonging to the Beech Hill school. They -were very gaily painted, and, whatever their merits for speed and -ability, they were quite as handsome as the Gildrock and Winooski. - -"Twig the uniform!" exclaimed Ned Bellows. - -"But that's only a boat uniform," replied Life Windham, who was one of -the incipient rebels. "None of our fellows object to the uniform they -wear on board of the Sylph." - -The uniform of the Chesterfields--for there was no doubt as to the -identity of the occupants of the barges--was blue flannel, trimmed with -white. It was very fanciful, and rather a sensational costume. - -"I suppose every one of them wears an eyeglass, and has a cane under his -thwart," laughed Phil Gawner. - -"And every one parts his hair in the middle, so as to keep the boats on -an even keel," added Lick Milton. - -"Anything more?" inquired Dory. - -"I wonder if they row in kid gloves," said Ben Ludlow. - -The boys seemed to have exhausted their terms applicable to the young -gentlemen of the Collegiate Institute, and a silence followed. There -could be no mistaking the sentiment of the crew of the Winooski. They -were disposed to ridicule and lampoon the young gentlemen without mercy. -Possibly there was some justification or palliation for the -manifestation of this spirit, for the Chesterfields had applied -offensive terms to them on several occasions. - -"Now, fellows, I should like to have you hear me for a moment," said -Dory, when the crew appeared to have exhausted their supply of taunts. - -"All right, Dory: propel," answered Phil Gawner. - -"Those boats seem to be going to Sandy Beach; but that is no reason why -we should not go there also." - -"Of course it isn't!" exclaimed Ben Ludlow. "We have as much right at -Sandy Beach as they have, and if they want to prevent us from going -there, there will be music in the air." - -"It is not at all likely that they will try to prevent us from going -there," added Dory. "Those fellows claim to be gentlemen, and Colonel -Buckmill claims it for them." - -"The proof of the pudding is in eating the bag," said Ben Ludlow. - -"This is a baked pudding, and there isn't any bag," returned Dory. "If -those fellows are gentlemen they have made some slips, to put it in the -softest way we can. They have yelled at us, and called us 'tinkers,' -which is not a gentlemanly way to do things." - -"That's it; and we will give them some of the same sauce," said Phil -Gawner, with a threatening shake of the head. - -"That's the very thing we will not do!" exclaimed Dory, with very heavy -emphasis. "If the Chesterfields behave in an ungentlemanly manner, there -is not the slightest reason why we should do so." - -"Do you mean to let them call us names?" demanded Lick Milton, with a -great show of indignation. - -"I am not responsible for what they do: only for what I do myself," -answered the coxswain, with dignity enough for the principal of a high -school. - -"But we are not going to shut our mouths and let them insult us," -protested Ben Ludlow. - -"What do you mean by insulting you, Ben?" asked Dory quietly. - -"They call us members of the 'Tinkers' Institute;' and that is an insult -to the school to which we belong. For one, I won't stand it!" - -"What do you intend to do about it?" - -"I mean to pay them back in their own coin." - -"Call them dudes, kid-glovers, exquisites, dandies, milksops, and -anything else we can think of," added Ned Bellows. - -"Will calling them all these names wipe out the insult?" asked the -dignified coxswain; but it should be said, to his credit, that he was -dignified only when he was discussing great moral questions as the -officer in command of the barge. - -"We shall get even with them in that way," answered Ben Ludlow. - -"If one of them should steal your watch, Ben, it would make him a -thief--would it not?" - -"No doubt of that." - -"Then you would steal his watch, and thus get even with him, would you?" -continued Dory, pressing his point with vigor. - -"I don't say that I would," replied Ben. - -"You would certainly get even with him in that way. I should like to -have you answer the question, Ben." - -"I should serve him right if I did steal his watch after he had taken -mine," replied the cornered oarsman. - -"That don't answer the question, and, after what you say, I must take it -for granted that you would steal his watch." - -"I didn't say I would." - -"If you did steal his watch, would you, or would you not be a thief?" - -Ben Ludlow did not like to answer this question, and he was silent. - -"Of course he would be a thief!" exclaimed Life Windham; and half a -dozen others took this view of the question. - -"If the owner of the watch should prosecute you, would the judge decide -that taking the watch was not stealing because the owner of it had -stolen your watch before you did it?" - -"Stealing is stealing, of course," answered Ben Ludlow. - -"Then you would both be thieves," added Dory clinching his argument. - -"There is no getting away from that conclusion," said Ned Bellows; and -the rest of the crew indorsed his opinion. - -"I suppose one who calls names is a blackguard. When the students of the -Collegiate Institute call us 'tinkers' 'greasy mechanics' or any other -offensive names, they are blackguards," continued Dory. - -"No doubt of that, the blackguards!" exclaimed Dick Short. - -"Good! We proceed to call them 'dudes,' 'kid-glovers,' 'exquisites' and -such terms, and straightway we become blackguards also." - -"I don't think stealing and hitting back are the same thing," growled -Ben Ludlow, who felt that he was thoroughly beaten in the argument. - -"But what makes a thief or a blackguard on one side of the lake makes a -thief or a blackguard on the other side," added Dory. - -"Now, fellows, you have just won a victory by holding your tongues and -minding your own business. I want you to obey orders, and win another -victory in the same way." - -"All right, Dory; we will obey orders, for you get us through every time -when we do," said Corny Minkfield. - -"But I think we ought to give them some if they are saucy to us," -persisted Ben Ludlow. - -"We will give them some--some instruction in gentlemanly behavior if -they need it," replied Dory. "Give way!" - -Ben Ludlow raised no farther objection, and the boat went ahead again in -the direction of Sandy Beach. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -THE CHESTERFIELDS HANG OUT THEIR BANNERS. - - -"Not a fellow will speak without orders," said Dory Dornwood, as the -Winooski approached Sandy Beach. - -The coxswain of the barge felt that a great responsibility rested upon -him. He had no doubt the young gentlemen of the Chesterfield Collegiate -Institute would indulge in epithets when they came within hail of the -Beech Hill boat, for they never failed to do it whenever the opportunity -was presented. Matt Randolph was still laying down the law to his crew, -and the Gildrock was not within a mile of the little cove at the head of -which was Sandy Beach. - -If the crew of the Winooski retorted, as they were disposed to do, there -would be a war of epithets, and the affair would not be likely to end -without a fight. No one on board questioned the coxswain's pluck. Some -of them called him a "conundrum," because they could not understand him. - -Oscar Chester had the reputation of being the greatest fighting -character in the school, though he had earned his name in other fields. -Yet Dory had "knocked him out" in the twinkling of an eye. But the -coxswain always did his best to avoid a quarrel of any sort, and never -bullied or crowded anyone. - -Now he would not allow his crew to retaliate upon the Chesterfields, -whatever they said, or however abusive they became. The crew of the -second class boat had never seen a fellow like him. But he had proved -that he was able to take care of himself and of them, and they were -disposed to follow his lead. - -The three boats were approaching the cove, the course of the Winooski -being at right angles with that of the Institute boats. They were now -near enough to enable Dory to take the measure of the rival craft, and -their crews. Under the lee of the west shore the water was quite smooth, -so that the Chesterfields had no sea to contend against. - -To the experienced eyes of the coxswain of the Winooski it was plain at -a glance that the gentlemanly oarsmen had no skill in rowing, and had -had no proper instruction in the art. A few days' practice enabled them -to pull together; but this was about all that could be said of their -operations. As it was understood on board of the Beech Hill barges, -there was no such thing as discipline in them. The crew were turning and -twisting about on the thwarts, all of them engaged in noisy -conversation. - -The Chesterfields were staring with all their eyes at the Winooski, and -their remarks evidently applied to her. They were out for a good time, -and they seemed to be having it. Dory's crew had put themselves on their -good behavior, and not one of them looked to the right or the left, much -less behind him. They pulled a very easy stroke, and they all worked as -though they were parts of the same machine. But those in the other boats -did not seem to be at all impressed by the ease and grace of their -movements. - -The three boats came to the mouth of the cove at the same time. The -attention of every student in the Chesterfield boats was directed -towards the Winooski. They were giving more thought to the Beech Hill -craft than to their own. - -"Go it, Tinkers," yelled one of them, as the boats came within hailing -distance. - -"Put her through, Chip-splitters," shouted another. - -"Let her drive, Cog-greasers," yelled a third. - -"Shove her along, Shaving-makers," screamed a fourth; and all of them -cried as though they meant to be heard. - -The blood of the Beech Hillers boiled in their veins; but when they -looked at the coxswain, and saw a smile upon his face, they repressed -their indignation as well as they could, and tried to be as cool as Dory -Dornwood. The two barges came nearer, and the offensive epithets were -repeated, with many new ones added. Still Dory Dornwood smiled serenely -in the consciousness that he and his companions had not yet become -blackguards. - -"Stand by to toss!" called the coxswain, while the disagreeable names -were still showered upon them. - -Tossing the oars is a complimentary naval salute; and Dory was -determined to treat the young gentlemen of the Collegiate Institute -politely, whether they deserved it or not. Probably the crew of the -Winooski did not relish this idea of "turning the other cheek also," but -they had promised to obey orders, and they meant to do it this time, if -it killed them. - -"Toss!" added Dory, at the proper time; and the twelve oars went into -the air as though the oarsmen were in love with the Chesterfields. - -"The Greasers are showing off!" exclaimed some one in the leading barge. - -"Set them up again!" cried another. - -"Let fall!" said Dory, giving no heed to the shouts. - -The oars dropped into the water all as one, and Dory added the order to -give way. - -"They don't understand the salute," said the coxswain, as the boys -resumed their stroke with as much precision as though there had been -nothing to divert their attention. - -The steady pulling on board of the Winooski set her into the cove some -distance ahead of the two barges, and by this time the crew could see -the occupants of the other craft without breaking the rule. When they -saw the awkward rowing of the Chesterfields, they could hardly repress -their mirth, but they succeeded in confining it to smiles, in some cases -exaggerated into broad grins, but not one of them uttered the shouts of -derision that were at the ends of their tongues. - -On the bow of the leading boat Dory saw the name Dasher, and a glance at -the other showed that she was the Racer. As these names had no doubt -been selected by the gentlemanly students themselves,--for Colonel -Buckmill would certainly have chosen classic appellations,--they -conveyed some idea of the boating views of their crews. Racer was -suggestive of trials of speed, and they would not have been boys if they -had not desired and expected to beat something. Dasher was hardly less -suggestive, and perhaps took in the additional idea of breaking -something. - -The Dashers and the Racers had given so much attention to the Winooski -that they lost sight of their own beautiful craft; and they began to -"catch crabs," punch each other with the handles of the oars, and allow -things generally to fall out of joint, so that they were soon in a sweet -snarl. The crew of the Winooski were on the very point of breaking out -into a roar of derision, for the sight was too much for them. - -"Steady, fellows," said Dory, in a mild tone. "Keep her just as she is." - -The words restored the crew to their self-possession, and they -straightened their faces with a hard struggle. The coxswain of the -Dasher spoke a few sharp words to his crew, and restored order in his -boat. - -"I say, Greasers," shouted he, a moment later, making a gesture as if -beckoning to the Winooski. - -Dory did not heed the call or the sign. - -"Halloo! I say, you fellows from the Tinkers' Institute!" yelled Wash -Barker, coxswain of the Dasher, as his name and style were afterwards -found to be. - -The crew of the Winooski still pulled their easy stroke, and Dory took -no notice of the offensive hail. - -"I say, you Chip-makers! Are you all deaf? Don't you hear me?" screamed -Wash Barker in a still louder tone. - -But Dory would not have heard him if his voice had been an earthquake -while he mixed an epithet into his remark. - -"Don't you want to race with us, Tinkers?" called Mad Twinker, the -coxswain of the Racer, which had now come up abreast of the Dasher. - -"Steady, fellows," said Dory in a low tone. - -"I should like to try a race with those fellows," added Life Windham; -and half a dozen others indorsed the wish. - -"It would be no race at all; if we should give them a mile, we could -beat them in going two," replied Dory. - -"It will do them good to beat them," suggested Ned Bellows. - -"While they call us names I shall have nothing to say or do with them," -added the coxswain. - -"I should like to get even with them in some way," said Ben Ludlow; for, -"though beaten, he could argue still." - -"I don't want to get even with them. We are a long way ahead of them in -gentlemanly conduct, and we should have to fall back a long distance to -be even with them," answered the coxswain. - -This remark satisfied most of the crew, and was even comforting to Ben -Ludlow. The Chesterfields continued to yell at the Winooski, exercising -their inventing powers in inventing new terms of derision to apply to -the Beech Hill students. Dory maintained his policy of silence to the -end, and very likely the collegiate gentlemen thought they were treated -with contempt. - -The Winooski ran up to the beach at the head of the cove, and her crew -landed. The Gildrock was not yet in sight, and it was apparent that Matt -Randolph was taking his defeat very much to heart, and was training his -crew. The second class boat was carefully secured, and in a few minutes -more the crew were swimming at some distance from the shore, for they -had to go out at least ten rods to find water that was over their heads. - -The boys were enthusiastic in this recreation, as they were in the -boats, and they soon forgot the scenes in which the Chesterfields had -taken part. They had received plenty of instruction in swimming, and -what they needed now was abundant practice. But by this time there was -not a single one of them who could not sustain himself and make fair -progress in the deep water. - -The Dasher and the Racer had also run to the beach, and their crews had -landed. Dory supposed they were going into the water, and he hardly gave -a thought to them. For a time they gathered in knots on the shore, and -seemed to be busy talking together. Then they began to walk about, and -extended their ramble to a considerable distance. They did not go into -the water, and at the end of half an hour they embarked in their boats -and pulled out of the cove. - -But they did not go a great way. At the entrance to the cove, half a -mile distant, they lay upon their oars. Thus far the Winooskis had been -so busy with their sports in the water that they hardly heeded the -Chesterfields. The young gentlemen had departed, and the skirmishing -for that day appeared to be at an end. - -"What are those fellows about?" shouted Corny Minkfield, when the -operations of the Chesterfields attracted his attention. - -Every member of the Winooski's crew glanced in the direction from which -the two barges had been last seen. The boats were at rest at the -entrance of the cove; but their crews were not laying on their oars. -Each one of them had raised something like a flag or a rag on his blade. -They were all yelling like maniacs, and flaunting these banners in the -air. The Winooskis swam to shallow water, and stood upon their feet. It -was time to go out, and they went ashore. - -The Chesterfields had stolen their clothes; and these garments were the -banners they flaunted. - - - - -CHAPTER V. - -JUST BEFORE THE BATTLE. - - -"They have stolen our clothes!" shouted Ben Ludlow, who was the first to -discover the mischief that had been done. - -"Shall we steal theirs if we can get hold of them?" asked Dory. - -"We can't get hold of them," replied Ben, who was not disposed to renew -the former discussion. - -"Perhaps we can; we know where they are, and all we have to do is to go -and take them," added the coxswain, with a smile and a shrug of the -shoulders. - -"But the fellows have them on," Ben objected. - -"That has nothing to do with the right and wrong of the question," -continued Dory. - -"I think we had better get back our own clothes before we talk of -stealing theirs," said Ben. "I am cold now I have come out of the water, -and I want my shirt and trousers." - -"We are all in the same pickle," laughed Dory, as he glanced at the -boats of the Chesterfields. - -The collegiate gentlemen seemed to be afraid the Beech Hillers would -not know what had become of their garments, and they were flaunting them -in the air as a matter of information to their rivals. And they seemed -to be enjoying the situation hugely, and the shouts of derision and the -roars of laughter came across the waters thick enough to stir up all the -bad blood in the veins of the Winooskis. - -"We are in a pretty fix," exclaimed Phil Gawner, as he extended his arms -as an athlete would exhibit his muscles. - -The principal required every student to wear trunks when he bathed, and -was very strict in enforcing the rule. When the second class came out of -the water, they were certainly in uniform, though it was rather unique -in style. It was a cool day, and cooler on the shore than it was in the -water. Most of the boys began to shiver as they stood on the beach, and -the situation was very uncomfortable as well as very annoying, so far as -the proprieties of society were concerned. - -"I shall freeze to death," said Lick Milton, his teeth chattering like -those of a person with the ague. - -"So shall I! And we shall all catch our death of cold," added Jim -Alburgh. - -"I have one cold now, and I shall have another on top of it," shivered -Corny Minkfield. - -"All the crew in the boat!" shouted Dory, with a vim that showed he was -determined to do something. - -"All aboard!" cried half a dozen others, as they tumbled into the barge. - -Half the crew were required to shove her off before they took their -places; but in a minute they were all afloat, wondering what the brisk -coxswain intended to do. - -"We can get warm if we can't do anything else," said Dory, as he took -the tiller lines in his hands, "Up oars! Shove off! Let fall! Give way!" -The last order was given when the boat had been shoved clear of the -sands of the beach, and had come about so that it was headed out into -the lake. - -The unclothed rowers bent to their oars, and the Winooski began to spin -through the water. The exercise was in the highest degree exhilarating -under the circumstances. Dory had the worst of it for he had no oar to -pull; but he swayed his body with more than usual vigor, and the wind of -the crew was not likely to last a great while under the rapid movements -required of them. - -The coxswain shook up his frame and muscles all he could, and he soon -ceased to shiver. A couple of minutes were enough to send a glow through -the veins of the rowers, and they were soon as warm as though they had -been clothed in their overcoats. - -The Dasher and the Racer continued to flaunt their banners in the air, -and to send their shouts of derision over the water, until the Winooski -had reached her highest speed. Very likely Wash Barker and Mad Twinker -had some idea of the rapidity with which the Beech Hill barge was -approaching them. At any rate they hauled down their banners, and got -their oars into the water. - -In spite of their present semi-nude condition, the Winooskis were still -under the influence of the usual discipline, and they did not attempt to -look behind them, or otherwise to inquire into the movements of the -Chesterfields. But the coxswain knew that the curiosity of a boy is -almost as strong as his love of fun, and he was in the habit of giving -his companions all the information that would interest them. - -"The Chesterfields have taken down the clothes and are pulling with all -their might to keep out of our reach," said he, when he was warm enough -to use his organs of speech without stammering. - -"That is not saying much," replied Life Windham. - -"We shall overhaul them in about three minutes," added Dory. - -"What then, Dory?" asked Ben Ludlow, but his wind was so nearly gone -that he could hardly speak. - -"I don't know, that depends," answered the coxswain. - -"If they don't choose to give us back our clothes, I don't see that we -can do anything," said Life Windham. - -"Perhaps we can, we will see." - -But Dory was very anxious in regard to the situation, and he found it -very difficult to decide what to do. True to his antecedents, he wished -to avoid a quarrel, or even a dispute, with the members of the -Collegiate Institute. If he went near them there was sure to be trouble; -but it would be impossible to recover the clothes without approaching -them. - -There were only two courses open to him: one was to return to Beech Hill -with his naked crew, and the other was to confront the Chesterfields; -and a meeting might result in their being obliged to go back to the -other side of the lake in their present novel uniform. It would be -humiliating to return in a state of nature, and to encounter the -derision of the first class. - -Was it necessary for him to submit to every indignity without resistance -in order to avoid a quarrel? Must his crew submit to being robbed of -their clothes rather than stand up for their rights? Must they abandon -their property rather than make an effort to reclaim it,--rather than -run the risk of a quarrel? - -Dory decided these questions in the negative very promptly. His religion -was stalwart enough to make him believe there was such a thing as -carrying even meekness too far. If there proved to be a quarrel, he -should go into it with clean hands, having done nothing to provoke it; -and what was true of himself personally was true of every member of his -crew. Not one of them had uttered a jeer or a taunt in the hearing of -the assailants. They had minded their own business in the fullest sense -of the phrase; and whatever happened they were not to blame. - -The boys were warm and comfortable by this time, and the coxswain had -greatly reduced the rapidity of the stroke. The rowers had regained -their breath, and were watching the anxious face of Dory with the most -intense interest. There were twenty-six of the Chesterfields, which was -double their own number, and to get their clothes by force did not look -like a hopeful enterprise to any of them. But the Gildrocks were not far -off, and their assistance could be had for the asking. - -"Now, fellows, we must overhaul those boats," said Dory in his usual -quiet tone, when he had decided not to return to Beech Hill in their -present uniform. - -"What are you going to do, Dory?" asked Ben Ludlow curiously; and the -same question was on the lips of every member of the crew. - -"I intend to do whatever it may be necessary to do. We are going after -our clothes, and we must get them the best way we can," replied the -coxswain. - -"But suppose they won't give them to us?" suggested Life Windham. - -"The clothes belong to us, and we have urgent need of them at just this -time. If they won't give them to us, we must take them, if we can," -answered Dory. - -"But we can't," added Phil Gawner. - -"We can't tell till we try." - -"Don't you think we had better call on the Gildrocks, and get them to -help us?" Ned Bellows asked. - -"That's the idea!" exclaimed Lick Milton. "Then we shall have as many -fellows as they have." - -"Do you see anything of the Gildrock?" inquired Dory with a smile. - -"I don't see her, but she can't be far off," answered Lick, as all the -crew cast their eyes over the lake astern of them. - -"I think she has gone into Rock Harbor," said Jim Alburgh. "The -Gildrocks don't want to see us just yet, after the whipping they have -had." - -"If we go after the Gildrock it will be half an hour before we can get -back here again. Those fellows will hide our clothes while we are gone, -and I am not in favor of losing sight of them for a moment," added Dory. - -"But what's the use of going ahead when we can't do anything if we come -up with them?" said Ben Ludlow. - -This question was discussed for the next few minutes; and it was plain -that Ben Ludlow and several others had "no stomach for the fight" which -they believed would grow out of a meeting with the Chesterfields. If -there was going to be a fight, they wanted to be equal in numbers to the -enemy; and they felt that the older and heavier fellows of the other -boat would make an even thing of it. - -For this reason they were not in favor of following up the Chesterfields -until they were reinforced by the Gildrocks. This was the view of -several of the crew, but the majority, whatever their opinion, were -entirely willing to leave the whole matter to the plucky but prudent -coxswain. He had always brought them out of all difficulties, and they -were more disposed to trust him than to depend upon themselves. They -were vigorous in their support of Dory, declared that they would obey -orders whatever broke, and hoped he would do what he thought best. - -Those who were anxious to follow their own views were compelled to yield -the point, and they ceased to offer any further resistance. Ben Ludlow -and the others who had been so desirous of getting even with the -Collegiates were not so earnest as they had been. They were ready to -"call names," and throw mud, but when it looked like a brush of another -kind, their backs were not so stiff. - -"Fellows, you have behaved first rate so far, and I hope you will do so -to the end of this affair," said Dory, after all questions had been -settled. "You kept still when I asked you to do so, and, whatever -happens, we shall go in with clean hands. I don't know how we can settle -this matter with those fellows, but I want you to be silent and let me -do all the talking with them." - -"All right, Dory: propel," replied Corny Minkfield; and the sentiment -was promptly indorsed by all the others. - -The coxswain began to increase the speed of the Winooski, which had -already gained half the distance between the boats. In a few minutes she -was within hail of the enemy. - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - -THE COXSWAIN OF THE WINOOSKI INDULGES IN MORE STRATEGY. - - -The Chesterfields were struggling with all their might at their oars. -They appeared to have no idea of the speed of the Winooski, and -evidently entertained the idea that they could run away from her when -they exerted themselves to the utmost. But Wash Barker and Mad Twinker, -the coxswains, had apparently learned one thing: and this was that their -crews could not handle the boats so well in rough as in smooth water. - -The cove where they had stolen the clothes of the Beech Hill boys was at -the narrowest part of the lake, where it was not more than a mile wide. -Even here they had kept under the lee of the shore, and had been in very -little troubled water. Half a mile below the cove was Northwest Bay, -where the lake is four miles wide. The Chesterfield Collegiate Institute -was on the north shore of the bay, near the point where the lake begins -to contract its width. - -There was silence on board of the Winooski, though the young gentlemen -in the two barges were yelling as much as they could while exerting -themselves at the oars. The latter were in great glee, and seemed to be -in the highest enjoyment of the situation. Dory studied the movements of -the two boats, and soon satisfied himself that their coxswains were -hugging the northwest shore, so as to avoid the heavy sea, which -prevailed at even less than half a mile from land. Dory decided to block -this game, and he headed the Winooski to the windward of the enemy. - -Such a contest could hardly be called a race, for the vastly superior -pulling of the crew of the Winooski allowed her crew to have it all -their own way. Though the Chesterfields did not yet understand it so, -the Beech Hill boat could easily pull around them. - -"Good, fellows! You are pulling first rate," said Dory, when the boat -had obtained the position in which the coxswain wished to place her. "We -are abreast and exactly to windward of them now." - -"What is coming next, Dory?" asked Life Windham; and all the crew had an -interest in the question. - -"I don't know: it all depends upon circumstances," replied Dory. "Now -pull your regular easy stroke; and we can readily beat them with that. -Things will come to a head very soon." - -The crew took the easy and graceful stroke indicated, but this produced -a greater speed than the Chesterfields could make with their utmost -exertion. Dory changed the course of the Winooski as she went ahead of -the Racer, so that she would gradually approach the enemy. - -In a few minutes it was evident that the Beech Hill boat would be in the -water of the other boats, and Wash Barker headed his craft farther to -the southward. This was just what Dory wanted him to do. He diminished -the speed of the Winooski still more, and continued to crowd into the -water of the Dasher until the latter was headed to the south, or out -into the rough sea. - -Wash Barker, who appeared to act as the commodore of the squadron,--Mad -Twinker, in the Racer following his lead,--could not help seeing the -result of these manoeuvres, whether he comprehended their purpose or -not. The white-caps were before him, and he knew that his crew made bad -work in the waves. Already the Dasher was beginning to pitch, and the -spray to swash in over her stern. But it looked to him just then as -though, if he headed for the shore, the sharp bow of the Winooski would -cut his craft into two pieces. - -Wash tried several times to get out of the scrape, but the Beech Hill -boat looked like a streak of lightning to him, and he did not want it to -come any nearer to him. He was soon compelled to give it up as a bad -job: his pursuer would allow him to go only to the southward. But Wash -had brains if he didn't know much about handling a boat. The force of -the waves was increasing every length he went in the present direction. - -Dory heard him shout to Mad Twinker, but he could not understand what he -said. A moment later the Dasher began to head more to the eastward, the -Racer taking the same course. The commodore had evidently decided to get -about in the opposite direction. Dory followed him up closely till the -two barges were in the trough of the sea, and began to roll instead of -pitching as before. The rowers on the lee side, as the boats careened in -that direction, had their looms thrown out of the rowlocks. Some of them -went over backwards, and some of them, in their efforts to save -themselves, lost their oars overboard. - -In a word, the crews of both the Chesterfield barges were in a fearful -snarl. The boats continued to roll in the heavy waves, and Dory thought -it not unlikely that his crew would be called upon to save the -collegiate gentlemen from being drowned. Of course it was nothing but -clumsiness which had reduced them to this extremity. - -The crew of the Winooski were in a position to see all that occurred to -the unfortunate barges; for Dory, as soon as he saw what Wash had -intended to do, had come about in the opposite way from that taken by -the other barges. When his boat was headed into the wind, he called upon -the crew to lay upon their oars. - -"That's a bad egg for them," said Life, chuckling at the misfortune of -the enemy. - -"There are three of their oars floating off into the lake," Phil Gawner -added. - -"Don't you think we had better go out and tow them in, Dory?" laughed -Ned Bellows. - -"Until they get overboard, we will continue to mind our own business; -but if they need help we must do all we can for them," replied the -coxswain. "While we are waiting we might as well run out and pick up -their oars." - -The orders were given to start again, and the Winooski dashed out into -the heavy waves. Dory discovered two more oars which had been lost by -the Racer. The two bowmen were directed to pick them up when they came -to them, and the five were quickly secured. They were stowed away under -the thwarts. - -By this time the Chesterfield barges were in condition to make another -effort to reach the shore, or to get into smooth water. Wash Barker was -yelling at his crew, and striving to bring order out of confusion. Mad -Twinker was doing the same in the Racer; though neither of them had any -brilliant success. But at last they got the remnant of their oars into -the water. Then it was found that the three oars had all been lost from -the starboard side of the Dasher, and Wash proceeded to bring about an -equilibrium in his propelling force. - -When the Winooski had picked up the oars, Dory took her to a position -between the barges and the shore. He did not regard the battle as ended; -in fact it had hardly begun, though the coxswain considered his tactics -a success thus far. After a great deal of loud talk on the part of the -coxswains, and a great deal of "talking back" on the part of the crews, -the Chesterfields were in condition to resume their effort to reach the -shore. - -Just as soon as the Dasher began to move through the water, Wash found -the sharp bow of the Winooski pointed towards his boat. He was afraid of -it, and he allowed himself to be crowded off his course precisely as he -had before. It took but a few minutes to put his boat into the trough of -the sea again, and she began to roll in a manner very trying to the -nerves of the inexperienced boatmen. - -The Chesterfields held on to their oars this time, though they stopped -rowing. But they did not stop rowing by order of the coxswain. In fact -there was a mutiny in the Dasher. The crew ceased to pull of their own -accord, and proceeded to pitch into the coxswain for getting them into a -scrape a second time. But Wash was a gentleman of energy and decision, -and in the matter of "jaw" he soon overcame his refractory crew, and got -his boat headed to the shore again. - -By this time he comprehended the tactics of the Beech Hill boat, and -realized that Dory's purpose was to drive him into the rough water. He -appeared to be in an angry frame of mind, and he cast savage glances at -the Winooski. Dory continued to ply his strategy of crowding the Racer -off her course. But her coxswain had evidently decided not to be shoved -off again, though it looked as though the Winooski would dash into her -bow the next instant. - -"Halloo, Tinkers!" shouted Wash; "If you don't keep out of my way I'll -run into you." - -Dory made no reply to this threat, though it was uttered in a very -savage tone, as though the speaker meant all that he said. The Winooski -continued on her course towards the Dasher, her naked crew pulling their -steady stroke, but not one of them looking behind him to see when the -crash was coming. - -"Oars!" said the coxswain, in a low but very decided tone. "Hold water!" - -At the first command the oarsmen poised their blades at right angles -with the gunwale; at the second they dropped them into the water, -holding them in this position with a firm grasp. The effect was to check -the progress of the boat. But this did not stop the boat, as the -coxswain desired to do. - -"Stern all!" he added; and the crew began to pull backwards. - -A couple of strokes were all that were necessary to overcome the -remaining headway of the barge, and she rested in the position Dory had -chosen for her. Wash Barker was evidently very nervous, though he saw -that the Winooski had come to a standstill. The stem of the latter was -pointed at her at an angle of forty-five degrees, but she was not -directly in the course of the Dasher. Wash thought he had space enough -to pass to the eastward of her, and perhaps he concluded that his threat -had been effective in stopping his rival. - -"Clap on that head bunter, Thad!" called Dory to the bowman. - -The article indicated was a kind of cushion covered with a network of -small rope. It was used when the boat was in danger of striking her stem -against any hard substance, as in boarding the steamer, or making a -landing at a wharf. Thad Glovering put the bunter in position; and the -call for it indicated to the crew that there was danger of a collision. - -The bunter had no significance to Wash, who believed he had won a -victory in bringing his opponent to a standstill. He kept his course, -and fully expected to pass clear of the Winooski. Dory watched the -Dasher with the utmost care, and it was plain enough that he intended -to do something. - -"You are doing first rate, fellows," said the coxswain, with his gaze -fixed upon the Dasher. "Now is the time to remember what you have -promised, and I want you to keep up the discipline clear to the handle." - -"We won't slip up the hundredth part of an inch, Dory," replied Phil -Gawner. "Propel!" - -"Ready! Give way!" called Dory, after a pause of a moment. "But only two -or three strokes!" - -The crew gave a few vigorous strokes in perfect time, and doubtless Wash -wondered what was coming next. - -"Oars!" said the coxswain, sharply. "Hold water!" - -The progress of the barge was checked when she was within ten feet of -the Racer. Then Dory ordered his crew to give way again. The stem of the -Winooski struck the bow of the Chesterfield barge. - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - -AN UNSATISFACTORY CONFERENCE ON THE WAVES. - - -There was no crash when the Winooski struck the Dasher, and Dory had -intended there should be none, or at least nothing more than a smart -rap. His crew anticipated something more than followed the contact of -the two boats. - -"Hold on, you Tinkers!" yelled Wash Barker, rising in his seat in the -stern-sheets of his boat. "You are running into us. You will smash our -boat all to pieces!" - -But the collision did not realize his fears, though his conduct caused -his crew to cease rowing. The Dasher was a couple of lengths astern of -the commodore's barge, and the instant the mighty official yelled they -all stopped pulling and looked behind them. The Winooskis felt the jar -of the stroke, but not one of them turned his head, as they might have -been excused for doing. - -"Give way, fellows!" called Dory, in an energetic command, to the -astonishment of his own crew, and to the dismay of the coxswain of the -Dasher. - -But the crew of the Winooski obeyed the order, as they had promised to -do, whatever broke. The command was given at the instant the two boats -came together. The headway of the Dasher was checked, and the force with -which the Beech Hill boat advanced carried her head around. - -"Oars!" "Hold water!" "Stern all!" were the next commands of the -coxswain of the Winooski, after he had set the Dasher to whirling in the -waves. - -The Chesterfield boat turned half around, so that she faced to the -southward again. As soon as the Winooski had drawn back from her -opponent, the crew lay upon their oars, the coxswain waiting for the -issue of his last piece of strategy. He was evidently ready to do the -same thing again, and Wash Barker began to look discouraged. His crew -had held on to their oars when the boat was in the trough of the sea, -but they had pulled them out of the water, or were trailing them -alongside. At any rate they were in confusion, and the commodore could -not extricate them from the dilemma. - -Dory was patient, and his crew were in the highest state of enjoyment -when they realized that the gentlemen from the collegiate institute were -completely "euchred." After a great deal of loud talking, and talking -back,--for every rower appeared to be a voluntary coxswain, the crew of -the Dasher got their oars into position in the water. They were ready to -pull again; but the commander of the fleet was in doubt and dismay. He -was headed for the open lake. His boats were pitching at a lively rate -in the waves. - -He could not go ahead, for that led him into the dashing sea. He could -not come about, for the Winooski was sure to give him another whirl, and -might smash his craft the next time. His crew were jawing and -gesticulating at him; one telling him to do this, and another to do -that. Dory gave his crew permission to witness the scene; and they could -not help realizing the benefit, not to say the blessing, of good -discipline. The bow of the Winooski was not more than a length from the -stern of the Dasher, and the bowman of the Racer had fastened his -boathook to the bow of her consort. The dismay of Mad Twinker in the -other boat seemed to be as deep as that of his fellow officer, and he -had no counsel to give. - -There was a multitude of counsellors in the Dasher. Several of them -advised the coxswain to run into the Winooski, and about all that could -be heard in the snarl wanted to smash her. Wash Barker had brains, and -he seemed to be aware that he could do nothing of the sort, for the -reason that the cool coxswain of the enemy would not let him. - -"I say, Tinkers!" shouted Wash, who had evidently concluded what to do. - -Dory was as dignified as George Washington when his title was ignored, -and he refused to answer while he and his companions were called by an -offensive name. Wash hailed several times in the same strain without -getting a reply. His crew seemed to be tired of yelling at him, and -there was a silence in the barge after the coxswain had called a dozen -times to his opponent. - -"Winooski, ahoy!" shouted some one in the boat, who had perhaps learned -from some sea novel how to hail another craft. - -"On board the Dasher!" replied Dory. - -"Are you all deaf there?" demanded Wash Barker angrily, when he -discovered that his opponent had the power of speech; "I have been -yelling at you for half an hour." - -"We don't answer to the name of Tinkers, Greasers, Chip-makers, or -anything of that sort," returned the coxswain of the Winooski. - -"Oh, you don't!" sneered Wash, when Dory had, with a couple of strokes -of the oars, placed the stern of the barge within a few feet of that of -the Racer. - -"We do not. You have our clothes in your boat, and I will trouble you to -return them to us," added Dory. - -"Don't give them up!" yelled a fellow in the bow of the Dasher. - -"No, no!" shouted half a dozen others; "don't give them up!" - -This looked like war, and things had a stormy aspect ahead. But Dory -decided to pay no attention to anyone but the officer of the boat. - -"Hold on to the clothes!" shouted the students in the Racer, when they -understood what was going on. - -The commodore of the squadron was thus fully informed in regard to the -state of feeling in both his boats. Whatever his own view, he seemed to -be unable to stand up against his companions. - -"Our clothes were taken from the shore while we were in the water, and, -as we need them very much, I will thank you to return them," continued -Dory, repeating his request in what some of his crew considered a very -"gingerly" tone. - -"Don't give them up!" yelled a crowd from both boats. - -"You can hear what our fellows say to your request," replied Wash in a -more pliable manner than he had yet assumed. - -"I speak to you as the coxswain in charge of the boat, and I am waiting -for your reply," added Dory. "The clothes belong to us, and I think you -can have no doubt that they ought to be returned to the owners." - -"Why don't you talk up to him, Wash?" shouted a student in the bow of -the Dasher. - -"We can't all talk at once, and you fellows keep up such a jaw that I -can't get in a word edgeways," retorted the coxswain of the Dasher -petulantly, for he evidently felt the force of Dory's hint that he ought -to speak for his crew. "If I am to be the coxswain of the boat, I don't -want every fellow to interfere with me, and take the words out of my -mouth." - -"You have got us into scrapes enough for one day," replied a rebellious -oarsman in the middle of the boat. - -"You want to crawl out like a lame chicken!" exclaimed another. - -"I was elected coxswain; but you won't obey orders, or even treat me -decently," answered Wash. "I have had enough of it, and I resign my -office, to take effect at the present moment." - -"You might as well! You don't know anything more about a boat than the -rest of us," added one of the crew. - -"I have nothing more to say," answered Wash Barker, with some show of -dignity, as he left his seat at the tiller lines, and took another -place. "Every fellow wants to be coxswain except me, and you may do what -you please now." - -Dory began to feel a higher degree of respect for the coxswain of the -Dasher, and so did the rest of the crew of the Winooski. The Beech Hill -boys were greatly interested in the dissensions among their opponents, -and they could not help contrasting their own splendid discipline with -that of the Chesterfields. - -"Will you oblige me with the name of the coxswain of the other boat?" -asked Dory, addressing the retired officer of the Dasher. - -"His name is Madison Twinker, but we all call him Mad," replied Wash -Barker. - -"What did you tell him for, Wash?" yelled one of the gentlemanly -students of the Chesterfield Collegiate Institute. - -"I know how to answer a civil question," replied the late coxswain, as -he settled down in his seat, and turned his back to his crew. - -Dory directed his crew to pull a few strokes and thus enable him to -secure a position within talking distance of the coxswain of the Racer. - -Before he could speak to Mad Twinker, the members of his crew began to -shout at him, telling him not to give up the clothes. The discipline in -this boat was no better than in the other. Dory repeated his request to -the remaining coxswain of the squadron. - -"Don't give up the clothes!" yelled the crew. - -"If you fellows are going to do the talking I have nothing to say, and I -shall follow the example of Wash Barker," added Mad Twinker; and he -plainly sympathized with his fellow coxswain who had resigned. - -The Chesterfields did not like this answer, and they looked at one -another with something like dismay on their faces. - -"Go ahead, Mad! We won't say another word," said the stroke oarsman. The -others made no promises, but for the time they were silent. - -"I am waiting for your answer, Mr. Twinker," said Dory, when he thought -it was time for the officer of the Racer to speak. - -"Suppose I decline to return them," replied Mad, who found it necessary -to say something, though it was clear that he had not decided what to -say. "What then?" - -"I don't care to consider any question but the return of the clothes," -replied Dory. - -"Our fellows are not ready to return your clothes, after the insults you -have heaped upon us," answered Mad Twinker; and this answer was followed -by a clapping of hands. - -"Am I to understand that you refuse to return our property?" asked Dory -gently but forcibly. - -"We will compromise the matter if you like," suggested Mad Twinker, who -did not like the cool manner of the coxswain of the Winooski. "If you -will apologize for the insults heaped upon us, we will return the -garments in as good condition as when they were taken." - -"I am not aware that we have insulted you in a single instance, to say -nothing of heaping insults upon you," replied Dory. - -"We spoke to you twenty times, and you refused to answer us, or take -the slightest notice of us," answered Mad, with energy, as though he -believed he had made a valid charge; and he even got up a little -indignation to go with it. "We invited you to race with us, and you -would not deign to make any reply. We think we are entitled to a civil -answer when we ask a question." - -"Certainly you are when you ask a civil question; but every time you -spoke to us you addressed us as 'Tinkers,' 'Greasers,' 'Chip-makers,' or -some such insulting epithet. When we were insulted we simply maintained -silence," answered Dory. - -"Are you not Tinkers, Chip-makers, and Machine-greasers?" demanded Mad -Twinker. - -"Whatever we are, these names were applied to us as terms of reproach, -and were insulting." - -"We don't see it." - -The Chesterfields clapped their hands again, as they had when the -coxswain proposed the compromise. Just then the Gildrock was discovered -pulling rapidly towards the scene. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - -THE CHESTERFIELDS SURRENDER THEIR BANNERS. - - -Commodore Mad Twinker did not seem to have much confidence in the -position he had taken. He felt that he had been beaten in the argument, -but in the face of his crew he could not abandon the ground he had -taken. Of course he knew that the Chesterfields had no right to retain -the garments they had brought from the shore; but it seemed to be quite -impossible to "give in" to the Beech Hill party, and acknowledge that it -was wrong to apply epithets to them. - -"The Gildrock is coming, Dory," said Life Windham, in a low tone, for -the coxswain had not observed the approach of his consort. - -Dory cast a glance in the direction from which the other barge was -coming. She had apparently just made her way out of Sandy Beach Cove, -and the crew were pulling a quick stroke, as though they thought -something was the matter with the Winooski. The plucky coxswain was not -particularly pleased at the prospect of a re-enforcement; for, though -Matt Randolph was a splendid fellow, he feared that he might be more -inclined to fight than to compromise. - -But if Dory intended to recover the clothing of his crew, the present -situation looked more like a fight than a compromise. The Chesterfields -refused to admit that the reproachful epithets were insulting, and -demanded an apology for his neglect to answer the challenge to race with -them. The coxswain, fearful that he might appear to be too stiff, went -over the matter again. - -"When we came near you we gave you a complimentary salute," added Dory. - -"A complimentary salute!" exclaimed Mad Twinker. "When was that, and -what was it?" - -"We tossed oars." - -"Tossed oars? Where did you toss them?" asked the commodore; and it was -plain enough now that the Chesterfields did not understand the -manoeuvre. - -"We raised them to a perpendicular; and this is the highest honor one -boat can pay to another. We should not have tossed oars to you if we had -intended to insult you," replied Dory with spirit. - -"Do you call that showing off a complimentary salute?" demanded Mad, -with a sneer. "It's no use to talk any more about it: when you make the -apology for insulting us we will give up the clothes." - -The crews of both the Chesterfield boats applauded. The wind appeared to -be freshening, or it had driven the boats farther out into the lake, -where they felt it more. At any rate Mad's last remark indicated a -desire to end the conference on the waves. - -"I hope there will be no trouble," said Dory, as he glanced at the -Gildrock again, though she was still a mile from the scene. - -"There will be no talk at any rate," replied Mad. "We are going ashore -now, and we will see you on the land if you like." - -"You will not go ashore until you have given up those clothes," added -Dory firmly. - -"I'm not going to fool with you, as Wash did, and if you don't get out -of our way we will sink you!" exclaimed the new commodore. - -"I think you will have to understand a little more about handling a boat -than you do now, before you can do that," replied Dory quietly, as he -backed the Winooski a little way from the Racer. - -With some difficulty Mad got his boat about so that it was headed to -the shore, and the Dasher, with Jeff Monroe acting as coxswain, was -trying to follow her example. The waves were very rude, and it looked as -though the latter would be swamped before she got about. As soon as Dory -saw that the Dasher had accomplished the feat, he repeated his former -manoeuvre, shoving the bow of the barge entirely around, in spite of all -the efforts of her crew to prevent it. - -Mad Twinker ordered his oarsmen to beat off the assailants with their -oars; but the moment the boat got into the trough of the sea, the bow -oarsmen were utterly unable to stand up. In swinging around, the -Winooski brought up against the side of the Racer, and two of the -latter's oars were snapped in twain in the collision. But Dory drew back -before any further damage was done, though the Chesterfield boat had -only seven oars left. - -By this time the Racer had nearly come about, and Dory gave her a shove -which sent her back to her former position in the trough of the sea. Mad -Twinker was downright mad in fact, as well as in name, when he found -himself beaten. But the Winooski kept out of his reach, and he was -utterly powerless. Her coxswain did not have the least difficulty in -swinging her around as he wished, in the smart sea. - -The wind was blowing the boats farther out into the lake every moment, -and the white-caps had a terrific aspect to the inexperienced boatmen. -Mad brought his barge about again. Placing one of his oarless crew at -the tiller lines, he crawled forward himself, and took a position in the -bow. Arming himself with the boathook he directed his rowers to give -way. - -This time Dory did not wait till the Racer was headed to the shore, but -darted upon her just as she came out of the trough of the sea. He called -to Thad Glovering to boat his oar, and look out for his head, for Mad -evidently intended to hit anyone who came within reach of his weapon. - -"Oars!" shouted Dory with energy. "Stern all!" - -But in spite of his care he struck the Racer harder than he intended, -and a lively snapping of cedar boards was heard. The sound created a -panic among the crew; they all stopped rowing, and looked behind them to -see what had happened. About three feet of the bow of the boat was stove -in, and the water was pouring in through the break. - -"There! Do you see what you have done?" yelled Mad Twinker, appalled at -the disaster to the Dasher. - -"Will you give up those clothes, or will you take another rap?" called -Dory sharply. - -"Another rap! Do you mean to drown us all?" cried Mad. - -"I mean to have our clothes!" answered Dory. - -"Let them have the clothes!" yelled one of the terrified crew. - -"Let them have them! We can't do anything more," added another. - -Mad said nothing more, but he picked up such of the clothes as were -within his reach, and held them out in the direction of the Winooski. -His crew followed his example, and Dory ran the barge near enough to -receive them. - -"That's all there are in this boat," said Mad Twinker. - -"If you all move a little farther aft, the water won't run into your -boat," said Dory in a quiet tone. "Here are five oars that belong to -your boats. I have no further business with you to-day, unless we find -some of our clothes are missing; and we wish you good evening." - -"We shall have further business with you, and you won't see the end of -this affair for one while," growled Mad Twinker, as he crawled to the -stern-sheets of his barge. - -While this scene was transpiring, the Dasher had succeeded in getting -about, and her crew were pulling for the shore, though they lay upon -their oars when they saw the catastrophe to her consort. Dory followed -the other barge without any delay, and was soon in position to "ram" the -bow, as he had that of the Racer; but the Dashers decided not to be -wrecked, as their consort had been. Jeff Monroe shouted that they would -give up the clothes and they were delivered. The Winooski went to the -shore, and the crew clothed themselves. None of the clothes were -missing, and the coxswain was glad he had no further demand to make upon -the Chesterfields. Before the boys were half clothed the Gildrock joined -them. - -"What in the world have you fellows been about?" asked Matt Randolph. -"We thought you were in a row out there with the Chesterfields, and we -were hurrying up to help you out." - -"We were in a row, and we have smashed in the bow of one of their -boats," replied Dory. "Our fellows have behaved first-rate, and I think -we have come out of the scrape with clean hands." - -"Not if you have smashed one of their boats," added Matt seriously. - -"Captain Gildrock must settle that question; and I suppose Colonel -Buckmill will have something to say about it," answered Dory, as he -proceeded to relate in detail what had happened at Sandy Beach. - -The event was discussed with no little excitement for a considerable -time. Beech Hill was very indignant at the conduct of the Chesterfields, -and heartily delighted that they had been beaten in the end. But all -felt, as Mad Twinker had suggested, that they had not seen the end of -the affair yet, and it was voted that a state of war existed between the -two institutions on opposite sides of the lake; and perhaps it was a -happy circumstance that four miles of fresh water lay between them. - -"I say, Dory, I don't quite understand how it was that you beat us so -awfully in that little scrub race we had," said the coxswain of the -Gildrock. "I was sure we could whip you every time when we came out of -the river." - -"I knew that you had been giving your crew a little private training," -replied Dory, laughing, as they walked down to the barges. "I know just -why you were beaten; and I think you had better wait till you get out of -the woods before you do any crowing next time. The three cheers you gave -were rather cutting to our fellows." - -"I was confident we could pass you every time; and your crew were taking -it very easy. We gave the cheers to stir you up, and give us a chance to -beat you when you were doing your best," Matt explained. "But how did -you give us such an awful waxing?" - -"Simply by minding our own business: that's all I know about it. Our -fellows row first-rate, and they are in splendid discipline. Your crew -got demoralized when they saw us gaining on them, and they couldn't do -anything more. It was as easy to beat them then as it is to go to sleep -when you can't keep awake." - -Matt did not understand the cause of his defeat much better than before. -He said he had been training his crew, and trying to find out what the -matter was. - -The barges returned to Beech Hill, and after they were secured, there -was nothing talked about but the encounter with the Chesterfields. As in -duty bound, Dory reported the affair, with full details, to the -principal. - -"I am afraid this is rather serious business, Dory," said Captain -Gildrock. "It looks like a standing quarrel between our school and the -Institute, and it may lead to disagreeable consequences. Of course the -students on the other side will have their own story to tell, and -probably I shall hear from Colonel Buckmill, who will claim damages for -the injury done the barge." - -"We had to recover our clothes, or come home without our shirts," -pleaded Dory. - -"I have no doubt you have told the story correctly as you understand it, -but almost always there are two sides to any story. You appear to have -acted with prudence and forbearance, and I have no fault to find with -you," added Captain Gildrock. "We will wait and see what comes of the -affair." - -It may as well be said here that nothing came of it, and Colonel -Buckmill was not informed in regard to the collision. The Racer was -rowed to Westport that evening, and the next morning she had been -repaired, and was in as good condition as ever. But the Chesterfields -nursed their wrath, and vowed vengeance for the humiliation to which -they had been subjected. - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - -A REBELLION IN THE SCHOOLROOM. - - -After breakfast on the following morning the students were provided with -the new uniform, if so simple a suit could be dignified by such a title. -It consisted of a sack, pants, and vest of blue flannel, and a cap on -which was a monogram of the letters B. H. I. S. The buttons on the coat -and cap were plain and nickel-plated, as was the monogram. It was a very -neat dress, and most of the boys were pleased with it. - -"Where is your uniform, Life?" asked Dory of the strike oarsman of the -Winooski, as they were about to enter the school and shop building. - -"I don't intend to wear any uniform," replied Life Windham. "I am not a -monkey, a soldier, or a policeman." - -"As the rest of us are neither soldiers nor policemen, I suppose you -regard us as monkeys," added Dory, laughing. - -"I don't say that you are monkeys, only that you are dressed like -monkeys," replied Life. - -"I think you are making a mistake, and I hope you will consider well -what you are about," continued Dory seriously. "My uncle pays for the -clothes of all the students, and it seems to me he ought to be allowed -to say what the garments should be." - -"If Captain Gildrock wanted you to go about town with a chapeau on your -head, should you be willing to do it?" demanded Life, with considerable -vim in his tones. - -"But he don't ask you to wear a chapeau, or even a soldier's cap. You -argue against something that is ridiculous, instead of the actual -thing," returned Dory warmly. "It is a common cap, just such a one as -you wore when you came to Beech Hill, only there are four letters on -it." - -"It is a uniform, any way, and we are all to be punished because two -fellows drank beer in a saloon," persisted Life. - -"There is no punishment about it." - -"Didn't Captain Gildrock say we were to wear a uniform because two of -the fellows drank beer?" demanded Life. - -"No, he did not!" protested Dory. "He said he did not believe the -fellows would have drank the beer if they had worn the uniform of the -school." - -"Why not? Because they would be afraid of being found out?" sneered -Life. - -"Not at all. Didn't he say that he expected the fellows to have a proper -regard for the honor and credit of the school? He thinks that respect -for the institution would prevent the fellows from doing anything out of -the way. The uniform would keep the fact that they are members -constantly in their minds. In Boston all the pupils of the high schools -wear a uniform cap." - -"I don't see it in that light, and I look upon wearing a uniform as a -punishment, served out to the innocent as well as the guilty." - -"If I were you I should go and put the uniform on, and then carry my -grievance to the principal," added Dory, sorry that the stroke oarsman -of the boat should get himself into trouble for nothing at all. - -"We argued the matter yesterday. I am not the only fellow who won't wear -the uniform. There are eight of us, and we had a meeting this morning," -replied Life, "and not one of them will put on monkey rigging." - -"You are making a bad mistake, Life. Not a word was said yesterday about -punishment, and I am sure my uncle will set matters right if you only -obey orders. If you stand out, he won't say a word to comfort you. Put -on the uniform, go to him this morning, and say that you object to -wearing it, for you look upon it as a punishment, served out to the -innocent as well as the guilty," reasoned Dory. - -"We said all we had to say yesterday," replied Life; and he joined -several others not in uniform as they went into the building. - -In the schoolroom Dory had a chance to see who the rebels were, for all -the others wore the uniform, while the objectors had on the garments in -which they had come to the school. There were four from the first class, -and four from the second. Besides Life Windham, of his own crew, he -found Phil Gawner, Lick Milton, and Tom Ridley. He was sorry he had not -known who the rebels were before, for he thought he could have -influenced them in the right direction. Ben Ludlow, who had had the most -to say against the uniform the day before, wore the prescribed costume. - -Eight out of twenty-six were nearly one third of the whole school. He -wished he could have a chance to talk the subject over with the other -rebels in his crew before they were called to order in the schoolroom, -for Captain Gildrock was a thorough disciplinarian. He would yield a -great deal to respectful remonstrance, but not a hair to rebellion. If -the eight rebels took a decided stand, the principal would regard it as -a case of disobedience, and treat it accordingly. - -But there was no time to argue the matter, and hardly a word had been -said about it among the crews of the barges. The rebels had preferred to -confine their discussion to their own number, instead of getting the -views and feelings of the other members of the school. - -Every pupil had a single desk in the schoolroom, which contained his -books and other property. Each one took his place, and the roll was -called by Miss Fatima Millweed, who was the clerk of the institution. -All answered to their names. Most of those who wore the uniform did not -seem to know that there was a rebellion in progress, and they looked -with some astonishment at their companions in plain clothes. - -The principal had not yet come in, and as he had announced other -business for the opening of the session, the instructors waited for him. -But the captain was a methodical and punctual man, and the roll-call was -hardly finished before he made his appearance upon the platform. He had -a roll of papers in his hand, and seemed to be thinking of the business -of the moment. He proceeded to unroll his papers, without bestowing any -attention upon the new uniform, for he had noticed and commented upon it -before school time. - -"Now, boys, I have something to say about the plans for the new -boat-house and hall for recreation," the principal began, as he took his -place at the desk on the platform. "The idea does not include merely the -building, but a wharf for the Sylph, docks for the barges, and the -location and general arrangement of the building and grounds. For the -best plan of the building the prize will be fifty dollars. The same -amount will be given for the best location and method of constructing -the wharf and arranging the grounds of the new structure." - -"Architecture and civil engineering," suggested Bolingbroke Millweed, -deeply interested in the business of the occasion. - -"Precisely so, only we shall not meddle much with ornamental -architecture," replied Captain Gildrock, looking over the pupils to -observe the impression the announcement of the prize made upon them. - -Then he suddenly suspended his remarks, and stepped out to the side of -the desk. For a moment he looked the boys over, as though his thoughts -had taken a new turn. He left his papers on the desk, as though he had -abandoned the subject of the building. - -"I think I directed that the new uniform should be put on this morning," -said the principal, after a considerable pause. "I see that most of you -wear it, and I suppose the others could not find suits that would fit -them. Mr. Sheers was to be here to assist in fitting you. Wasn't he -here, Shoreham?" - -"Yes, sir; he was here, and he selected a uniform that he said would fit -me," replied Lew. - -"But you have not put it on?" - -"No, sir." - -"I see there are several others who have not put on the uniform," -continued the principal; and he proceeded to call the names of those in -plain clothes. "If any one of you did not find a uniform that would fit -him, he will signify it." - -No one raised a hand or spoke a word, and it was evident that there was -no trouble at all about fitting the garments. - -"Shoreham, why have you not put on your uniform?" demanded the -principal, rather sternly. - -"I have decided not to wear a uniform," replied Lew, in an entirely -respectful tone. - -"You have decided not to wear a uniform," repeated Captain Gildrock. -"Cornwall, I see that you are in plain clothes." - -"I have also decided not to wear a uniform," answered Bart. - -"There appears to be several of you who made the same decision," added -Captain Gildrock. - -"Eight of us, sir," said Bob Swanton. - -"I wish to say, Captain Gildrock, that we do so with entire respect to -you, sir," added Lew Shoreham. - -"With entire respect to me, you intend to disobey my orders," said the -principal, with a smile. - -"We have agreed that not a disrespectful word shall be spoken to you, -sir," continued Lew, who had apparently been appointed the spokesman for -the rebellion. - -"In other words, you intend to do wrong in a gentlemanly way, which is -perhaps better than doing it in an ungentlemanly way," added the -principal. - -"I desire to give the reasons why we decline to wear a uniform," said -Lew Shoreham, rising from his chair as though he intended to make a -speech of some length; and perhaps he could do it better than any other -student in the school. - -"I decline to hear the reasons--I respectfully decline. After I have -given an order I don't argue the matter," replied Captain Gildrock. - -"But we wish--" - -"While you stand in the attitude of disobedience, you must excuse me -from listening to what you wish, Shoreham. Those who have decided not to -wear the uniform of the Beech Hill Industrial School may stand." - -The eight rebels rose from their seats, and stood by the side of their -desks. They held their heads up as though they meant to be manly and -independent, and no doubt they felt so. - -"I don't think you are quite fair, Captain Gildrock, not to hear what--" - -"You are entitled to your own opinion. The eight boys who have decided -not to wear the uniform will go to their rooms, and each remain in his -own apartment until further orders," continued Captain Gildrock, in a -very mild but decidedly firm tone. - -"I wish to say--" Lew Shoreham began. - -"You will say nothing!" interposed the principal, in a very stern voice. -"Go to your rooms, and stay in them till you have permission to leave -them." - -Lew Shoreham was extremely anxious to argue the question, and to do so -before the school. Physically he was rather clumsy, and was not likely -to distinguish himself in athletic sports; but he was a good speaker for -a boy, and a bit of a lawyer besides. Doubtless he and his companions -thought they were grossly abused in not being allowed to argue the -question of obedience. The rebels retired from the schoolroom, and the -principal picked up his papers. - - - - -CHAPTER X. - -IMPORTANT TO BOY ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS. - - -The principal said a few words to Mr. Darlingby, one of the instructors, -as soon as all the rebels had left the schoolroom. The teacher followed -the eight boys who had decided not to wear a uniform to the dormitory. -He sad nothing, but merely saw that the rebels went to their rooms, as -they had been directed. He then called Bates, the old sailor who had -been quartermaster and mate under Captain Gildrock for may years, who -did any kind of duty at Beech Hill required of him, from running the -steamer down to blacking the principal's boots. - -The old seaman always obeyed orders, and never asked any questions or -made any speeches. Mr. Darlingby stationed him in the hall of the -dormitory, and directed him not allow any of the eight boys to leave the -building, or more than one of them to come out of his room at a time. -Bates knew what discipline was, for he had been thoroughly trained by -his employer. The instructor returned to the schoolroom, and reported -the orders executed. - -After the rebels had departed from the room, Captain Gildrock made no -allusion whatever to them. He pointed no moral for the benefit of the -rest of the students, and did not seem to be in the least degree -disturbed by the event of the morning. He picked up his papers, and went -on with his announcements as though nothing had occurred to interrupt -them. - -"You have had valuable instruction in drawing from Mr. Jepson," -continued Captain Gildrock; "but you have not yet had a great deal of -practice. Of course I don't expect finished drawings from you, and the -nicety of the work will not affect the result. All the plans must be -drawn by scale, and must be intelligible, but the prizes are to be given -for the ideas, and not for the artistic finish of the plans." - -"On what scale must the plans be drawn?" asked Luke Bennington. - -"Mr. Jepson must answer that question." - -"A quarter of an inch to the foot," added Mr. Jepson, the master -machinist and instructor in drawing. - -"Do you all understand what rooms and closets we want in the -boat-house? That is what the new building will be called," continued the -principal. "I think you had better make a list of these things, so that -you won't forget anything." - -"Are the sailboats to be provided for in the building?" asked George -Duane. - -"Certainly not; it would take too high a building to cover the topmast -of the Gold wing," replied the principal. "The safest place for the -sailboats is at their moorings in the lake." - -"I don't quite understand how the two barges are to be accommodated -under cover," suggested Harry Franklin. - -"There must be two slips, or docks for them, at least fifty-four feet -long by eight or nine feet wide, with doors at the water end of them, so -that the boats can be locked in. I shall say no more about the docks; -but you can put them down at the head of your list. Then we want about -forty dressing-rooms, for we must provide for the future as well as the -present. They must be at least three feet square and light enough to -enable the occupant to see what he is about." - -"But where are these dressing-rooms to be located?" inquired Dave -Winslow. - -"You must answer that question for yourselves; and of course the value -of the plan will depend upon the convenience and fitness of the -apartments. Add dressing-rooms to the list. Then we want as many as four -store-rooms, one for a sail-room, one for a paint-shop, and two for boat -furniture." - -"What must be the size of these rooms?" asked John Brattle. - -"You know what these rooms are for, and you may determine the size of -them for yourselves," replied Captain Gildrock. "I desire to measure -each student's judgment in the decision of just such questions as this, -and I shall leave a great many of them open for this purpose." - -The boys looked at each other, and thought that whoever got the prizes -would earn them, for it would take no end of hard thinking to make the -plans. - -"The next requirement is the hall for meetings, which will be on the -second story," continued the principal, as the students added the -apartment to their list. "The size and proportions will be left to your -own judgment, but I will add that you may want to use this hall in the -winter for exhibitions of declamation, dialogues, and concerts, to -which the people of Genverres may be invited. I give you the uses to -which the hall may be put, and it is for you to determine how large it -should be." - -"Are we to make it big enough to accommodate the whole town?" inquired -Corny Minkfield. - -"You must judge for yourself how many people the hall ought to hold; for -I have no clearer idea of the matter than you have, and I have no plan -for the winter entertainments," answered Captain Gildrock. "If there are -any exhibitions at all, they will be given at your request, and not at -my desire." - -"Are we to decide now whether we will have exhibitions or not?" Steve -Baxter wanted to know. - -"You are to decide for yourselves whether or not a large hall is likely -to be needed. I have nothing more to say on this subject. I have now -given you the essential points in the new building. In the matter of -halls, corridors, entrances, I shall say nothing. You need not confine -yourselves to the essentials I have mentioned. If you can add any -apartments that are worth having, you are at liberty to do so, and the -value of any such additions or improvements will be carried to your -credit on the total fitness of the plan. I hold the comfort and -recreation of the pupils of the school to be entitled to consideration -as well as usefulness in the narrower sense. I have said all I have to -say in regard to the boat-house, and after this I shall answer no -questions." - -"Are the dressing-rooms to be on the lower story or the upper?" inquired -Matt Randolph. - -"They will be just where you choose to put them," answered the -principal. "That is a question of convenience which each must decide for -himself." - -"But we have the two docks for the boats, the forty dressing-rooms, the -four store-rooms, and the corridors and entries to put on the lower -story, with nothing but the hall on the second floor," persisted Matt. - -"I did not stipulate that any of the apartments you mention should be on -the lower floor," said the principal, laughing. "If you think it best to -put the two docks for the barges on the second floor, of course you have -a perfect right to do so." - -"A boat is a good thing to have, but it isn't particularly valuable on -the top of a mountain for sailing purposes, and I should rather have it -where there is a body of water," persisted Matt. "The docks will take up -about fifteen hundred square feet, and that is space enough for a hall -that will hold one hundred and fifty or two hundred people. It seems to -me that the parts don't balance well." - -"It is for you to balance them, then. I have given you the essentials of -the boat-house, and I leave all the rest of it to you," replied Captain -Gildrock. "If you please, Randolph, we will not argue the matter, for -you are giving your associates points that I wish them to study out for -themselves. Now we will consider the location and the engineering work." - -"I don't see why these are put together," said Oscar Chester. - -"Because they are very closely connected," answered Captain Gildrock. -"If one of you decides that the boat-house ought to be built in the -middle of the lake, he ought to tell us how the foundation is to be -laid, and how we are to reach it." - -"I see; and I understand it now," added Oscar. - -"The location of the building, and of the wharf for the steamer or other -craft we may have, are included in the offer. The same student may -compete for both prizes, and plan both the building and the location. If -you locate the wharf where it cannot be conveniently reached by the -Sylph or the Goldwing, the site selected would have to be rejected." - -"But perhaps the plan of the fellow who wins the prize for the -boat-house may not fit the location that gets the prize," suggested -Oscar Chester, who seemed to be taking the deepest interest in the -subject, though he had been the hardest boy in the whole before his -admission to the school. - -"I have considered that difficulty, and the two plans which are the best -on the whole will be modified to adapt them to each other. Now, we will -see the map, Mr. Jepson," said the principal. The instructor in drawing -unrolled a chart on the wall behind the principal, and it proved to be -Beech Hill Lake, drawn after the manner of the chart of Lake Champlain, -with the compass, soundings, and character of the bottom upon it. - -"This chart will be available for the inspection of all the students. It -shows Beech Hill Lake, which is about eighty rods long by forty wide. It -is simply an enlargement or basin of Meadow Creek. I own the land on -both sides of it down to Lake Champlain, and therefore we can do what we -please with it, even if we fill it up. When you locate the wharf you -must indicate how it is to be built, and how it is to be reached both on -the land and the water side." - -"I suppose there is only one way to build a wharf, and that is by -driving piles," said Harry Franklin. - -"The wharf may be of wood or of stone. If you look at the chart, -Franklin, you will see that the bottom on this side of the lake is -composed of rocks, into which no piles can be driven. Our present wharf -was built like a log house, by piling logs one upon another, and filling -in with earth. But the timbers are rotting, and it will soon need to be -rebuilt, and I don't care to have another of that kind. On the other -side of the lake the bottom is mud, brought in by the creek. That is all -we need say about the wharf and location." - -But half a dozen of the boys who had ideas on the subject before the -school proceeded to ask questions, which the principal declined to -answer. - -"The season is advancing, and I wish to have this building up and -covered in before the cold weather comes, and we want these plans at -once," continued the principal, after he had quieted the inquirers. -"After consultation with the instructors, I have decided to give you -three days vacation, at the end of which time the prizes will be -awarded. These three days are given you to study the subject and draw -the plans." - -"That is a short time," said Matt Randolph. - -"But it is just as much for one as for another. You must do the best you -can in that time. Fifty dollars is a considerable sum for a boy to have; -and I must say now that the winner will not be allowed to fool it away. -If they have no immediate use for it, the money will be placed to their -credit in the Genverres Savings Bank; but it may be used at once for any -proper purpose." - -The students wondered, as they left the schoolroom, if the vacation had -not been given on account of the rebellion. But all of them hastened to -the lake to look for a site for the boat-house. - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - -DORY DORNWOOD CONFRONTS THE TOPOVERS. - - -Several groups of the students had formed on the banks of Beech Hill -Lake, and were discussing the plans when the school-bell rang. They -obeyed the summons, and began to think this was a queer sort of a -vacation, when the principal informed them that he had forgotten -something. Seeing them talking together at the lake had reminded him of -the omission. - -"I must exact a promise from each student that the plan he offers is -wholly his own work," said Captain Gildrock. "There must be no -conversation, conference, or comparison among you, and no student must -show his plan to another, or tell another what it is. All of you who -assent to this, and make this promise, will signify it by standing." - -All the boys rose and remained standing. Some of them asked a lot of -questions as usual, but in a few minutes the whole matter was perfectly -understood. - -"Under these conditions we shall have to stay in our rooms all the -time," said Dave Windsor; and the remark created a laugh, for it looked -as though the competitors for the prizes were to be prisoners as well as -the rebels. - -"You can do your work where you please. The schoolroom, the workshop, -the grove, are open to you, as well as your rooms," replied the -principal. "I consider that each pupil is put on honor not to look at -the work of another. Before the prizes are awarded I shall ask each one -if the plan is wholly his own idea, and I shall be willing to take his -word for it." - -"Then everything must be original, must it?" asked Bolly Millweed. "If -we have seen an arrangement of doors or windows we like in a hotel or -church, we must not use it." - -"Not at all," answered Captain Gildrock, a little impatiently. "If you -have ideas, they belong to you though you did not originate them. I -simply insist that you shall not use one another's ideas. I don't expect -you to originate many if any new ideas in architecture and engineering; -only to combine old ones for the particular structure we have in view. I -only ask you to do what any old farmer would do if he wanted to put up -a set of farm buildings; and he would not go near an architect or civil -engineer, though it might pay him to do so." - -"I understand it now," said Dave. - -"I hope you all understand it; but if there are any questions to be -asked it must be done now, for not one will be considered after I -dismiss you this time. You may use any of the boats on Beech Hill Lake -during the next three days without further permission." - -The boys were ashamed to ask any more questions, and they left the -schoolroom. They were not to talk together about the plans, and they -separated outside the door, each to make his examination of the shores -of the little lake by himself. In a few minutes they were scattered all -along the border of the lake and creek, each one carefully avoiding all -the others; for, under the skilful training of Captain Gildrock, each -one had come to regard his honor as the apple of his eye. - -Of course there were some of the boys who had no more idea of the making -of a plan or the fitness of a locality for the boat-house than they had -of the erection of a Chinese pagoda; and the principal hardly expected -that more than half a dozen plans of the building and as many of the -location would be submitted. But he knew that the study given by the -pupils to the subject would be worth more than the prize to them. - -It was rather amusing to see some of them making so serious a matter of -the plans, but probably every one of them thought he could select the -best location for the wharf and boat-house, even if he could not make a -mark towards the plan of the structure. Many of them seated themselves -under the trees in view of the lake, with paper and pencil in hand, as -though they had begun to make the rough sketches of the plan. - -By the middle of the forenoon it was clear that some of the students had -got their ideas in working order, for they went to the schoolroom, and -began to make sketches on brown paper. But others were not satisfied -with the limited survey they had made of the lake, and wished to visit -the other side. Though the creek was narrow, there was no bridge on the -Beech Hill grounds, and it was too wide to be leaped over. Mat Randolph -proposed that they should go over in the barges. All hands were called, -and they assented to the plan. - -When they were seated in the boats, with only nine oarsmen in each, it -was decided to make a trip around the lake, in order to examine the -shore from the water side. At the head of the lake, in the rear of the -shop and schoolroom, was a rocky hill rising to the height of about a -hundred feet in the loftiest place. The rocks rose perpendicularly from -the lake, and the water was four feet deep alongside of them. - -Bolingbroke Millweed was earnest and critical in his survey of these -rocks, though hardly another of the party paid any attention to them. -Probably most of them thought it was the most unsuitable place on the -lake for the boat-house and wharf, though it was nearer to the mansion -and schoolroom than the present wharf, where the barges were moored. - -The two boats pulled with a gentle stroke around the lake, stopping at -several points for a more careful survey. If any one had any brilliant -ideas he was as silent as Beech Hill itself, at the head of the lake. -This was the name of the elevation in the rear of the schoolroom, and -the estate, the lake, and the institution had been called after it. - -Beech Hill Lake extended north and south within a quarter of a mile of -Porter's Bay, an inlet of Lake Champlain. Between the little lake and -the bay there was a beautiful grove, which was one of the most -delightful resorts on the shipmaster's estate. He had intended to build -a bridge across the creek, back of Beech Hill; but an attempt had been -made to rob his house by a couple of New York burglars, who had landed -at the head of the bay, and crossed the lake in a boat which had -formerly been kept on the other side. - -The idea of constructing: a bridge had been given up after this attempt, -but a small pier had been built near the inlet of the creek, for -convenience in landing from boats at the grove. The barges went to this -little wharf, and the crews landed, and separated, each to pursue his -studies by himself. All of them made a careful examination of the west -shore of the lake. - -When he had finished his survey, Dory Dornwood seated himself under a -tree not far from the pier. He did not seem to think he had any talent -for architecture or civil engineering, and he had not a very strong hope -of winning either of the prizes. The fact that he was the founder's -nephew would not affect the matter in any way, for each competitor was -to put only a word or character on his work, which was also to be -written on an envelope containing his name. The examiners, whoever they -were, were not to know whose plan they were considering. - -While Dory was contemplating the shores of the lake, and making up his -mind in regard to the best place for the wharf, he heard voices in the -direction of the pier. Looking that way, he saw a squad of boys on the -little wharf. Their attention was fixed upon the two barges, which they -were examining with interest, not to say enthusiasm. - -Genverres had its proportion of bad boys as well as good ones, and Dory -recognized these visitors to the grove as belonging to the former class. -He had not been in the town long enough to have any acquaintance with -them, and hardly knew them by sight; but his uncle had pointed out a -couple of them whom he suspected of stealing fruit from his garden. In -fact he had suffered so much from the depredations of fruit-thieves, -that he had taken extensive and expensive precautions to keep them out -of his grounds. - -The captain had built a fence ten feet high from the main road to the -creek; the latter being considered a sufficient barrier on the west side -of the estate. The grove could easily be reached, but the grounds on the -east side of Beech Hill Lake were now well protected. Dory saw that the -leading spirit of the squad of visitors was Tom Topover, a reckless -young rascal of sixteen or seventeen, who had made himself a terror to -the farmers on the outskirts of the town, as well as to many peaceable -citizens in the village. - -The presence of the "Topovers," as they had come to be called, after -their leader, boded no good to the boats, for the squad were -free-and-easy fellows, who had no more regard for the rights of property -than they had for the cleanliness of their faces and their garments. -Dory Dornwood knew how easy it was to get up a quarrel with this class -of young ruffians, and he did not think it was wise to go near them; but -he thought it was best to show himself, so that they might not be -tempted to meddle with the barges by the supposition that they were not -seen. He began to walk about where he could not fail to be observed by -the visitors. - -Dory looked all around him through the grove, but he could see only a -few of the other students. Doubtless they were all absorbed in the study -of the plan and location, for not a sound could be heard except the -dashing of the water against the rocks in the creek above the lake. - -He and Matt Randolph had each a boatswain's whistle, used in calling -the boats' crews when they were separated, as in the present instance. -Its shrill pipe could be heard at least half a mile in a still day; but -the coxswain of the Winooski hoped he should have no occasion to use it. -The Topovers had seen him, and probably some of the other students, and -must know that the crews of both boats were in the grove, or the barges -would not be at the wharf. - -He watched the visitors very closely, but they manifested no -disposition, so far, to meddle with the boats. They were looking at -them, and made them the subject of a great deal of animated -conversation. Dory could not blame them for being delighted with the -barges, and the fact they were pleased was an evidence that they had -some good taste. But presently he saw four of them walking towards him. -They came in a direct line, and the coxswain had no doubt they had -something to say to him. One of them was Tom Topover; another was Kidd -Digfield; the two whom the captain had indicated as the plunderers of -his garden. He did not know the names of the other two. - -"Hullo, Dory!" called Tom Topover, when the party came within hailing -distance of him, "Them's tip-top boats you've got down there." - -"They are very fine boats," replied Dory. - -"I s'pose you fellers have big times in 'em," continued Tom, as he and -his companions halted in front of the coxswain. - -"We have first-rate times in them," answered Dory, with a pleasant -smile, for he was very careful that there should be nothing exasperating -in his conduct, and he had learned that one's manner of saying anything -could be very provoking, even when nothing offensive was uttered. - -"You ain't usin' them boats now: won't you let me and the fellers take a -little turn in 'em on the pond?" Tom Topover proceeded with as much -assurance as though he was making only a reasonable request, as he -evidently believed it was. - -Dory felt that he had no more right to lend one of the boats than he had -to loan one of his uncle's shirts; and he saw the beginning of trouble -in the request. - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - -TOM TOPOVER HAS REASON TO BE ASTONISHED. - - -Tom Topover was a stout and wiry fellow, and he had the reputation of -being the greatest fighting character in Genverres. He made a quarrel -whenever he could, and he had proved a handful to several men who had -been called upon to tackle him in some of his marauding exploits. With -this reputation he was afraid of no one though a village policeman -declared that there was more bully than fight in him. - -Dory Dornwood wondered that Tom had taken the trouble to ask permission -to use the boats; but as he had done so, and done it in a respectful -manner, it was his duty to answer him; and the circumstances made it a -very disagreeable duty. The coxswain was not a "bruiser," and he had no -taste for pugilism, though, if attacked or assaulted, he was a very -vigorous opponent. - -"Those boats belong to Captain Gildrock," replied Dory to the request of -the Topover. - -"I know that, but you fellers takes care on 'em, and we only want to -use 'em a few minutes while you ain't in 'em," continued Tom, in a very -pliable manner for him. "We won't hurt 'em a mite, and we'll fetch 'em -back jest as soon as you fellers want 'em!" - -"The boats don't belong to me, and I have no right to lend them," added -Dory, with a pleasant smile to soften his refusal. - -"The cap'n won't say nothin' if you just let us take one of the boats -for a few minutes," pleaded Tom. "You needn't tell him, and he won't -know nothin' about it." - -"I have no right to lend the boat, and I can't do it," persisted Dory, -who had no confidence in the statements or the promises of the Topover. - -"What's the reason you can't?" demanded Tom, with a little more vigor in -his tones. - -"I have told you the reason: the boats don't belong to me. What would -you say if I should lend your hat to some fellow without your -permission?" - -"I shouldn't say a word; just as lief you'd do it as not," promptly -returned the applicant. "I ain't stingy with what belongs to me. If them -boats was mine, I'd let you have 'em all day when I wa'n't usin' 'em." - -Tom Topover made this display of liberality in a tone of triumph, and -he appeared to think it ought to settle the question at once. He looked -as complacent and self-satisfied as though he had actually loaned the -coxswain half a dozen barges every day for a week. - -"I have ten dollars belonging to my uncle which he gave me to pay a bill -in Burlington when I go there to-morrow," said Dory, amused but not -convinced by the unselfish offer of Tom. "Do you think it would be right -for me to lend that money?" - -"Right? Of course it would, if any good feller like me wanted to borry -it. Lend it to me, and I will pay it back next week when a man gives me -twenty dollars he owes me," answered Tom glibly. - -"I don't think it would be right, and I can't lend the money or the -boats because they don't belong to me. You must go to Captain Gildrock -if you want to borrow the boats," replied Dory, finding it was useless -to argue the point with one who had no respect for the rights of -property. - -"You'll let us take one of the boats, won't you? I hain't got no time to -go'n find Captain Gildrock," continued Tom. - -"I will not let you take one of the boats," said Dory very decidedly. -"I have told you I could not." - -"All right! The boats don't belong to you, and 'tain't none of your -business," chuckled Tom. "We'll take a little turn in the furder boat, -and I'll see the cap'n arter we come back, and make it all right with -him." - -This seemed to be a satisfactory arrangement to Tom Topover, and he -started for the wharf, followed by his companions, with the evident -purpose of carrying out his idea at once. - -"The boats don't belong to me, but, as you said, we have the care of -them, and we can't let any one take them without Captain Gildrock's -permission." - -"What are you go'n to do about it?" demanded Tom, halting, and then -retracing his steps to the spot where the coxswain stood. "You don't -reckon I keer for you, do you?" - -"I don't want to make any words about it, and I have said all I have to -say," replied Dory, and he still maintained his quiet demeanor, though -things began to look like an immediate battle. - -"I don't want no words nuther. I'm go'n to take one of them boats, and -I want to know what you are go'n to do about it," blustered Tom. - -"I don't want to do anything; but the boats are in the care of our -fellows, and we are responsible for them. If you meddle with them, I -shall be obliged to call the crews, who are here in the grove," replied -the coxswain. - -"Call the crews, will you?" said Tom, clenching his fists and siding up -towards Dory. - -"There's two or three fellers comin' down here," interposed Kidd -Digfield. - -"You 'n' Nim Splugger look out for 'em, and I'll polish off this chap," -replied Tom, as he glanced into the grove, where he saw Matt Randolph -and Oscar Chester approaching. "Them boats don't belong to you, and -'tain't none of your business who takes 'em. I'll bet you don't call no -crews nuther," continued Tom, assuming a decidedly belligerent attitude. - -"I have nothing more to say," returned Dory, bracing himself up in -readiness to meet whatever might come. - -"All right if you hain't; and I hain't got much more to say; only if you -try to call them crews, you'll wish you'd been born deef and dumb," -added Tom, savagely, and enforcing his threat with a flourish of his -dirty fists. "Come back, Kid, and be in a hurry," he shouted to his -companions he had sent to look out for Matt and Oscar, who were still -too far off to see what was transpiring near the wharf. - -Tom Topover started at a smart run for the wharf, closely followed by -his three companions. He had evidently changed his tactics all of a -sudden, and concluded not to fight any battle. The haste displayed -indicated that they were hurrying to get into the boats before any of -the crew could arrive. Dory comprehended the situation at once, and blew -a long pipe on the boatswain's whistle, which woke the echoes of the -quiet grove. - -"Git into them boats!" shouted Tom Topover, to the companions he had -left at the wharf. "Untie 'em, and pick up the oars!" - -The Topover intended to get possession of the boats while it was -possible to do so, and not lose any time in thrashing Dory, which he -regarded as an easy matter, a mere form. He had called his crew with the -whistle, and Matt, as soon as he heard it, had blown his own pipe. He -and Oscar had by this time got an idea that something was wrong, and -were running with all their speed towards the wharf. - -Dory was not content with merely blowing his whistle, and, as soon as -he saw what Tom meant to do, he ran after him. There were about a dozen -Topovers, as nearly as he could judge, but he did not stop to ask -himself what he should do alone against such a host. The leader of the -young ruffians was not as fleet of foot as the three companions who had -attended him to the grove, and they reached the wharf when he had -accomplished about two thirds of the distance. - -"Hurry up, Pell Sankland!" shouted Kidd when he came to the wharf, -though the one called was not far ahead of Tom. - -Kidd Digfield appeared to be the second in power and influence of the -party, and he gave orders enough when he reached the vicinity of the -pier to confuse and confound those who had obtained a footing in the -boats. There were five in one barge and four in the other. They had -already cast off the painters, and hauled the boats up to the side of -the wharf. - -"Let the boats alone!" shouted Dory, when he had nearly overtaken Tom -Topover. - -"What are you go'n to do about it?" demanded Tom, halting, and facing -about. - -"Those fellows must not meddle with the boats," answered the coxswain, -and he was not disposed to stop to parley with the chief ruffian. - -"'Tain't none of your bread and butter; you said so yourself," -interposed Tom, stepping in front of Dory with clenched fists to bar his -further advance. - -The coxswain was not disposed to waste any time in words with Tom, and -he attempted to pass him by dodging to one side, but the ruffian threw -himself upon him, seizing him by his coat collar. This was an act of -violence, and it roused the lion in Dory's nature. He shook off the -grasp of his assailant without any difficulty, for if he was not as -quick as lightning, he was about as near it as a boy of his weight could -be. Once more he attempted to pass his assailant, but Tom got in front -of him again. - -"If you want to fight, come on!" foamed the Topover, as he put himself -into the order of battle. - -"I don't want to fight, but I shall defend myself," replied Dory. "Out -of my way!" - -Instead of taking himself out of the coxswain's path, Tom aimed a blow -at Dory's head. The ruffian might as well have pitched into the -sea-serpent or a royal Bengal tiger as into Dory Dornwood. He was rather -smaller than his assailant, but he had learned the art of self-defence -of a Burlington barber, who had formerly been a teacher of the -"science." His frame seemed to be made of steel wire. He had brains and -great dexterity of movement. Abundant exercise in boats and other -training had fully developed his powers, and every student in the Beech -Hill Industrial School knew that he was a terribly "hard hitter." - -The coxswain easily parried the blow aimed at him with his left hand, -and planted a sledgehammer hit with his right in Tom's face. The Topover -went just where Oscar Chester had gone on a similar occasion at -Plattsburg--on the ground, flat on his back. Doubtless the leader of the -young ruffians was greatly astonished, not to say confounded, at this -unexpected reception, for his historical studies had been neglected, and -he had never heard of the Battle of Plattsburg, at least the particular -one to which we refer. - -Dory did not think it necessary to push the battle any farther at the -present moment, though Tom instantly sprang to his feet, in spite of -some confusion in his ideas. With one eye on his assailant, Dory -retreated a few steps, and then resumed his march on the wharf. - -"Hold on! I hain't licked you yet, and I'm go'n to do it afore I get -through," said Tom, moving towards his intended victim. - -"I can't wait for you to do it now," replied Dory, as he broke into a -run. - -But Tom began to swear like a pirate, and rushed after Dory. The latter -had no difficulty in keeping out of his way, and he reached the wharf -just as the villains in the boats had shoved them clear of the pier. -Kidd had put six of the party in each barge, and they had manned the -oars. But they had been obliged to leave their leader behind. - -Tom Topover now observed this bit of strategy, and he divided his vials -of wrath between the coxswain and his lieutenant. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. - -A VICTORY FOR THE TOPOVERS. - - -Dory Dornwood reached the wharf too late to prevent the ruffians from -getting off in the boats; and his failure filled him with consternation. -It was not for a few minutes, as Tom Topover had said, that the ruffians -wanted them, but for all day, or for a week or a month, if they were not -sooner taken from them. Living on the river and near the lake, such -fellows would naturally take to the water, and all or most of them knew -how to handle an oar, but not one of them could be called a skilful -boatman, though Kidd Digfield claimed to be a sailor on the ground that -he had made two trips in a lumber schooner. - -Even if the Topovers were competent to handle a common row-boat, it was -quite another thing to manage a barge fifty feet long, pulled by twelve -oars. If they succeeded in getting the boats out of the river, they were -likely to swamp them in the waves, smash them on the rocks, or grind -their cedar bottoms on the gravelly beaches. Dory had a genuine -affection for the Winooski, and it grieved him sorely to see her in the -hands of such a villainous crew as the Topovers. - -Of course there was nothing to be done at Beech Hill until the barges -were recovered. The wind was northwest and blowing fresh, as on the day -before, and it was dangerous for an unskilful crew to venture out on the -lake. The lives of the reckless party would be in peril as well as the -boats. - -Dory had but a few moments to consider the matter. Matt Randolph and -Oscar Chester were near him, out of breath after the run they had made. -Tom Topover had retreated to the shore of the pond; and the coxswain of -the Winooski, not wishing to engage in a fight, had neglected to follow -him. Nim Splugger had taken command of the Gildrock, and Kidd Digfield -of the Winooski. They had made sure to put a couple of lengths between -the barges and the wharf, and in this position they were as safe from -any interference of the boys on shore as though they had been in the -middle of the lake. - -There was no boat at the grove, and no means of pursuing the captors of -the barges. In fact, nothing at all could be done, and for the moment -the situation looked hopeless to the coxswains. Kidd proceeded to give -directions to his crew as soon as the immediate danger of capture was -passed. Taking the tiller-lines himself, he brought something like order -out of the confusion in his crew. After a great deal of sharp talk, he -succeeded in getting his fellows so that they could pull a stroke -together, and the Winooski slowly moved towards the lower end of the -lake. - -Kidd could not help seeing the chief Topover on the shore, and as soon -as his crew were in working order, he headed to the point where he -stood. Dory immediately observed the change in the course of the -Winooski, and understood the purpose of her present coxswain, which was -to take Tom on board. By this time Matt and Oscar were as near the spot -where Tom was waiting for the boat as Dory was. - -"Head them off!" shouted Dory, as he started at the top of his speed. - -"Pull lively, fellers!" yelled Kidd Digfield, when he saw the three -students running towards his leader. - -They did pull with all their might, and as the Winooski was bound to go -ahead when the oars crossed her gunwale, she was too much for the -runners on the shore. Dory hoped one of the clumsy oarsmen would "catch -a crab" at that important moment, but not one of them gratified his -desire. He was within a couple of rods of Tom, and was all ready to -pitch into him, when Kidd ordered his crew to stop rowing, and then to -back water. - -The inexperienced coxswain had not calculated well, and the boat lost -her headway when her sharp bow was within ten feet of the shore. Dory's -hopes swelled when he saw the boat come to a stand, and he increased his -speed. - -"Pull again!" shouted Kidd, almost crazy with excitement, when he -realized that he was losing the game. - -But his undisciplined crew were in confusion, and only half of them -could bring their oars to bear. The barge went ahead again just as Dory -was about to pounce on Tom Topover. The leader of the ruffians saw his -peril, and he did not seem to be "spoiling for a fight" at just that -moment, perhaps because his late victim had been reinforced by a couple -of his companions. He had not another instant to spare, and Tom made a -vigorous leap for the bow of the Winooski. - -The stem of the barge was not more than three or four feet distant when -the Topover made his leap, but the pointed bow was an ugly foundation to -strike upon. He could not throw his body into the fore sheets, but he -succeeded in grasping the gunwale with both hands, while the lower half -of his body went into the water. Unfortunately the force of his blow had -been imparted to the forward part of the barge, and it had been shoved -farther away from the shore. - -Tom Topover dragged himself into the Winooski. Seizing a boathook, he -stood up in the bow of the boat, evidently intending to use it in case -of need in defending himself from an attack of his pursuers. The two -coxswains reached the shore with their wind about gone, to find that ten -feet of deep water lay between them and the nearest part of the -Winooski. They could leap into the water and swim to her, and Oscar -Chester proposed to do so; but this would have been folly, for the -ruffians could easily beat them off with their oars and the boathooks. - -Nim Splugger, who had assumed the command of the Gildrock, did not claim -to be a sailor, though he had often pulled an oar. He lacked confidence -in his own ability, and was therefore not so imperative in his orders -as Kidd. The boat was clear of the wharf, and he took time to arrange -his crew at the oars. Before he could get them into working order, their -attention was attracted to Tom and the movements of the Winooski. They -rested on their oars, watching the issue of the affair near the shore. - -"Now, back her, fellers!" yelled Kidd Digfield, as soon as he saw that -Tom was in the boat. - -"No, you don't back her, Kidd!" roared Tom Topover. "That ain't no way -to do it! Pull on this side," and the leader pointed to the starboard -side; "back on t'other!" - -Tom was right, if he did not claim to be a sailor, and Kidd was wrong, -for backing her would only have sent the barge along parallel with the -shore, with the chances of a deviation which would have thrown the stern -within reach of the students on shore. Tom called his disciples by name, -and told each one what to do. Kidd took in his captain's idea, and -helped him with his words. Under their united directions, the head of -the Winooski was thrown around, and she was forced out into the lake. - -"I hain't done with you yet, Dory," yelled Tom, shaking his fist at the -proper coxswain of the barge. "Afore you are a week older I'll give you -the biggest lickin' you ever got in your life. I'll crack half the bones -in your body! I'll mash your head till you won't know it from a last -year's punkin!" - -"You had better bring those boats back before you get into hot water," -replied Dory, more in grief than in anger. "Let me tell you that you are -stealing them, and Captain Gildrock will haul you up before the court -for it." - -"Shut up, you monkey milksop! When we've done with the boats we'll set -'em a-fire!" returned Tom. - -"I can't stand this! I shall boil over!" exclaimed Oscar Chester. "I -should like to get near enough to that scallawag to pitch into him." - -"Keep cool, Oscar," said Dory. "We can't do anything just now, and it's -no use to boil over." - -"What makes that fellow so down on you, Dory?" asked Matt Randolph. "He -didn't say anything to Oscar and me." - -"Perhaps I gave him reason to be down upon me, though I only defended -myself. I knocked him over when he tried to stop me from reaching the -wharf," answered the coxswain of the Winooski. "If I had only got among -those ruffians half a minute sooner, I might have saved the boats, -though I should have had to stand up against the whole of them." - -Matt wanted to know more about the affair, and Dory told all that had -happened since he first saw the Topovers. By the time his fellow -coxswain had heard the story, the rest of the two crews began to arrive. -They could see for themselves why they had been summoned so soon. Tom -had taken possession of the stern-sheets of the Winooski, and sent Kidd -to one of the vacant thwarts to row. The ruffians were struggling with -the oars, for, though they had the strength, they were utterly lacking -in discipline and knowledge. But they pulled with some degree of -unanimity, and the Winooski went ahead at a very moderate rate. The -Gildrock was doing better than her consort, for Nim Splugger did not -confuse his crew with too many orders, and each one got the hang of the -oar in his own way. - -Both boats were moving, and were headed towards the outlet of the lake. -Their regular crews at the grove could only look on, for they were -powerless to raise a finger to recover the boats at present. One after -another suggested various experiments for demolishing the Topovers, but -their schemes were either foolish or impracticable. Oscar Chester wanted -to run down to the narrowest place on the outlet, and make an attack on -the marauders; but both Matt and Dory were not in favor of such a plan. - -"If we get desperate, and try to break things, those villains will smash -the boats rather than let us get them. That Tom Topover is as mad as a -March hare at the rap Dory gave him," said Matt. - -"I think we had better report to Captain Gildrock, for I don't see that -we can do anything here," suggested Dory, as he gazed sadly at the -retreating barges. - -"We can't even get over to Beech Hill," added Luke Bennington, as he -glanced across the lake at the school grounds. - -"We must go around by the road, and it is over a mile," added Pemberton -Millweed. - -"It seems to me that somebody on the other side must have seen what was -going on," said Matt. - -"I don't think anyone has seen what was going on," replied Dory. "Bates -is on duty in the dormitory, the teachers are attending to their own -affairs, and probably Captain Gildrock is in the house. If any of them -saw the boats going down the lake, they were too far off to know who -were in them. If my uncle knew anything about this business, he would -have sent a boat over before this time." - -"If we had been in any mischief, half a dozen of them would have seen -us," said Thad Glovering, with a laugh. - -"It's no use to stay here, and we may as well walk around by the road -and report to Captain Gildrock," added Dory. - -This was considered the best thing to do, and in half an hour they -arrived at the school grounds on the other side of the lake. No one knew -anything of what had happened on the other side of the water. They could -not find the principal about the place; and at last one of the stablemen -said he had gone to the village with Mrs. Dornwood in the buggy. - -Mr. Jepson, the master machinist, was the only instructor they could -find about the premises, and he agreed with Dory and Matt that something -should be done at once. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. - -THE PURSUIT IN THE GOLDWING. - - -It was easier to decide that something should be done than it was to -determine what to do. Mr. Jepson suggested the Sylph, but it would take -some time to get up steam, and Dory thought she would not be the most -convenient craft in a conflict with the barges. He was decidedly in -favor of pursuing the marauders in the Goldwing. - -In the smashing breeze on the lake she would sail nearly as fast as the -steamer, and he could have her under way in five minutes. The schooner -could follow the boats into shoal water, while the Sylph must have eight -or nine feet, and if Tom Topover was smart, she might not be able to go -within a mile of the barges. - -"I am more afraid the rascals will smash the boats than that we shall -not get them again," said Matt Randolph. "They are reckless fellows, and -will run them on the rocks or shoals." - -"We must look out for that," replied Dory. "If they go out on the lake -they are more likely to swamp them than they are to smash them. But we -are losing time, and I should like to catch the villains before they are -out of the river, for I think they won't hurry after they get out of -sight of Beech Hill." - -"Goldwing it is!" exclaimed Luke Bennington. - -"So say we all of us!" shouted the others, beginning to be somewhat -excited at the prospect of a lively time with the Topovers. - -"Dory shall command the expedition," added Thad Glovering. - -"Matt is a better skipper than I am," modestly added Dory. - -"No, I am not," protested Matt. "And Dory is better acquainted with the -Goldwing than I am, and he shall conduct the affair." - -"But you can't all go in the Goldwing," interposed Mr. Jepson. "There -are eighteen of you, and you will be so crowded that you will knock one -another overboard." - -"Although the schooner will carry eighteen well enough, we can do -nothing on board with so many, and nine or ten are all we need," added -Dory. - -"But there are fourteen of the ruffians," suggested Thad Glovering. -"They are used to fighting, and we want as many fellows as they have." - -"I don't believe there will be much fighting," replied Dory, laughing; -"but if there should be, we can do better with ten than we can with -twice that number. With eighteen we should be in one another's way." - -"Ten only will go," said Mr. Jepson decidedly. - -"But who shall they be?" demanded Luke Bennington. "Every fellow wants -to go and have a hand in the fun." - -"There is where the difficulty comes in," added Matt. "I think Dory had -better select his own crew; and for one, if I am elected to stay at -home, I won't complain." - -"You know very well that you will be elected to go, Matt," said Will -Orwell. - -"I don't like to select a crew; I wish all could go, and I shall be -satisfied with any nine," interposed Dory. - -"Under these circumstances the best thing a fellow can do is to -volunteer to stay behind; and I volunteer not to go," said Oscar -Chester. "I should like to go as well as the next one, and I don't want -any fellow to think I am chickenish." - -"We know you are not, Oscar," added Dave Windsor; and all the students -began to clap their hands at the self-sacrifice of the first volunteer. - -Bolingbroke Millweed followed Oscar's example; then came Matt Randolph -and Luke Bennington. It was the unselfish and brave thing to volunteer -to stay at home, and no one was willing to stay behind in doing a good -deed. In a moment more the whole seventeen had volunteered to remain at -Beech Hill. - -"I don't like to be alone, and I will join the crowd," exclaimed Dory, -greatly amused at the situation. "We are just as badly off as we were in -the beginning, and the Topovers are pulling down the river all the time. -I will tell you how to settle the matter so that it shall be fair for -all." - -"All right, Dory: propel!" exclaimed Dave Winslow. - -"Matt Randolph is the coxswain of the Gildrock, and he must go anyhow. -For the other eight you must draw lots. Mr. Jepson will attend to the -matter, and Matt and I will get the Goldwing ready," said Dory, -beginning to be impatient at the delay. - -All of them clapped their hands in token of their approval of the plan. -The master machinist took out his pencil and wrote the numbers from one -to sixteen on the back of a letter. Around eight of them, taken at -random, he drew a square. Calling Miss Millweed from the schoolroom, he -gave the paper to her. - -"Now, Luke, select a number less than seventeen," continued Mr. Jepson. - -"Forty-two," said Luke, laughing. - -"I shall have to turn you over to Mr. Darlingby for further instruction -in arithmetic," replied Mr. Jepson. - -"Twelve," shouted Luke. - -"Is that number enclosed in a square, Miss Millweed?" asked the -machinist. - -"It is not," replied the lady clerk. - -"Then you are blackballed, Luke," added Mr. Jepson. - -"Of course I am; I knew I should be." - -"But with the eight who are elected not to go we will go down the river -in the two four-oar boats; and we may be able to assist in the capture -of the barges," said the machinist. - -All hands applauded this announcement, and the lot proceeded. Oscar -Chester, the first to volunteer to remain behind, was one of the first -who selected a squared number. This result was heartily applauded. From -being the worst bully in the crowd he had come to be a very gentlemanly -and unselfish fellow. The discipline of Captain Gildrock had done -wonders for him. - -By the time the last of Dory's crew had been drawn, the schooner was -under way, and standing in towards the wharf. The eight who had been -"blackballed," as the machinist called it, were directed to man the two -four-oar boats, and put the others on board of the yacht. - -"Now we are all right, and under way at last," said Matt Randolph. - -"But the Topovers have a start of all of an hour ahead of us, and if -they have been using their oars they must be well out in the lake by -this time," added Dory. - -"I don't believe they will go a great way out into the lake," replied -Matt. "There must be a smart sea at the mouth of the river, for the wind -is a good deal heavier than it was yesterday." - -"The rest of the fellows are coming down the river in the four-oar -boats," said Oscar. "I suppose they are going to help us, and we ought -to make short work of this affair." - -"Are you going to lay them aboard, Dory?" asked Matt, who was rather -inclined to quiz his fellow coxswain. - -"I haven't the least idea how we shall manage the business," replied -the skipper of the Goldwing. - -"But you ought to have a plan," suggested the New York boatman. - -"How can you make a plan before you know what the Topovers intend to do, -and before you ascertain the situation of the boats?" asked the skipper. -"It's no use to try to cross the river before you get to it." - -"Of course not; but do you mean to board the barges and fight it out, or -to manoeuvre them out of the game as you did the Chesterfields?" -continued Matt, rather disappointed to find that Dory did not lean upon -him as much as he desired and expected. - -"I am ready to do either or both, as the circumstances happen to favor," -replied the skipper. "If you will take the tiller, Matt, I will go -forward and 'clear ship for action.'" - -The schooner was going at great speed, with the wind on the beam, and -the outlet was very narrow. Dory went forward, and proceeded to arrange -certain rigging on the forward deck. He did not explain what he was -doing, but he worked as though he had some idea of his possible action -in the encounter with the Topovers. - -While he was busy with the lines, the centreboard of the Goldwing -suddenly flew up, and a moment later the bottom of the yacht was -scraping on the sand. Dory suspended his work, and looked up. - -"Here we are!" he exclaimed, as he looked around him, and then at the -helmsman. - -"I thought there was water enough here for her," said Matt, greatly -chagrined to find that he had run the schooner aground when they were in -such a hurry. - -"So there is if you only keep in it," replied Dory laughing, for he did -not wish to hurt the feelings of his fellow coxswain. "I have done that -same thing myself, Matt, and I did it as handsomely as you have done -it." - -"We have to haul her up into the wind here, and I was afraid she would -go ashore on the other side," pleaded Matt. "But here we are with the -centreboard up in the air, and the planks rasping the sand on the -bottom." - -The disaster occurred at the bend in the outlet, which Dory called the -"V point." The current, which was quite strong at high water, deposited -a great deal of sand at the apex of the point, while its force made a -clear channel near the shore on the other side. When the wind was -northwest it was necessary to hug the point as closely as possible. - -The two oars and the boathook were at once brought into use, but it was -impossible to move the hull in this way. Dory sent a couple of the crew -ashore in the tender with a line, which they made fast to a tree near -the deep water. The anchor was taken on deck, and the other end of the -line passed through the block on the bowsprit. All on board manned this -line, and the bow was hauled off almost in the twinkling of an eye. Matt -insisted that Dory should take the helm, when the tender had returned -with the line. - -It was not an easy thing to get under way again in that bad place and -Matt was very much mortified at the mishap. The skipper said all he -could to comfort him, and gave him the helm again as soon as the -schooner was in Beaver River. He arranged his lines as he had before, -and by the time he had done this the Goldwing was approaching the mouth -of the river. But a bend prevented them from seeing out into the lake. - -"There they are!" shouted Dory at the heel of the bowsprit, where he -could get the first view of the white-capped waves. "They are doing the -very thing I was afraid they would do." - -"What's that, Dory?" asked Matt, starting the sheets as the course of -the yacht was changed. - -"They are standing across the lake, and in a short time, if they make -any headway, they will be in smooth water," replied the skipper. - -Matt did not ask any questions, and possibly he suspected that Dory was -his superior in the management of a boat. If he did, it was only because -he was mortified at the accident at V Point. The Goldwing went out into -the lake, and began to dance on the billows. The two barges appeared to -be doing very well, in spite of the inefficient crew at the oars. Both -of them were pitching smartly, and were not taking in water except in -the form of spray. - -In a few minutes the Goldwing was within hailing distance of the barges. -Dory declined to take the helm when Matt suggested, and was again busy -with his lines on the forward deck. - - - - -CHAPTER XV. - -THE SKIPPER USES A NAUTICAL LASSO. - - -"What's that?" called George Duane, while Dory was still busy on the -forward deck. - -This question was called forth by what sounded like a volley of cheers -from the New York side of the lake; but nothing could be seen to -indicate the source from which the noise came. - -"There it is again," added John Brattle, as three distinct cheers came -over the waves. "There is some sort of a party up that little cove." - -There was an inlet just to the south of the barges, from which it was -now evident that the sounds came. But parties from the surrounding -country frequently had frolics on the shores of the lake, and the -students concluded that the cheers came from one of these gatherings. - -The Topovers continued on their course, and seemed to be laboring to -increase their speed, which was certainly moderate enough. They pulled -but six oars in each barge, and against the wind and the heavy sea they -could make but little progress. The Goldwing was making three miles to -their one, and the moment for action was near. - -Though the Goldwing was close-hauled, she leaped over the waves like a -bird, and Matt was running directly for the barges, one of which was -following the other, the Winooski being ahead. The skipper finished -arranging the lines on the forward deck. Getting on his feet he made a -careful survey of the situation. - -"Matt, can you go to windward of the barges?" he called to the helmsman. - -"I might, possibly, but it would be a close squeeze," replied Matt. - -"Then we must work more to windward: tack, if you please," added Dory; -and it was evident that he had prepared his plan of attack. - -Matt came about and headed the Goldwing to the north. Dory kept his eye -on the barges, but he gave no hint of his method of operations. Probably -Matt thought he was entitled to be informed in regard to the plan, but -the accident in the river for which he was responsible had humbled him, -and he asked no questions. - -When the schooner had made about a quarter of a mile of northing, the -skipper gave the order to tack again. Matt was directed to steer for a -certain point on the shore, which would carry the yacht a little -distance to windward of the barges, allowing for the headway they would -make before she could reach them. In that lively breeze even the width -of the lake at Beaver River was only a run of a few minutes for the -Goldwing, and she was very soon abreast of the Gildrock. The Winooski -was about a hundred fathoms ahead of her. - -"Now, Matt, we have some sharp work to do, and every thing must be done -on the instant," said Dory, when the Goldwing had passed the Gildrock -and was up with the Winooski. - -"Perhaps you had better take the helm, then?" suggested the coxswain of -the Gildrock. - -"I can't, for I have a job to do here on the forward deck. We shall go -about, and run for the Gildrock in a moment," replied Dory. "I want you -to make for her stem just as though you meant to run her down." - -"All right, Dory; I will obey orders to the letter," returned the -helmsman. - -"I would rather you would obey them in spirit; so if I make a blunder, -and get knocked out, I want you to correct it," added Dory lightly. - -"I don't know what you are going to do, and I can only obey orders to -the letter," said Matt. - -"I could not settle on any plan until I had seen how the barges lay; and -it is too late to explain now. Ready about!" - -Matt promptly obeyed the orders given him, and the schooner came -entirely around. It would have been a shorter way to jibe her, but the -skipper never ventured upon this manoeuvre when the wind was at all -fresh; for he was not one of those venturesome boatmen who think they -are not smart unless they incur needless risks. - -Dory saw that Matt was carrying out his orders to the letter, and it was -clear that Nim Splugger, the acting coxswain of the Gildrock, was -getting nervous as he saw the Goldwing dashing down upon his craft. - -"What are you about? You will run over us!" yelled Nim, when he saw the -schooner within twenty feet of him. - -The oarsmen were inclined to desert their posts, and kept looking behind -them at the Goldwing. But both barges had been in the trough of the sea, -and those in charge of them had found by actual trial that the only way -they could go was directly across the lake, against the wind. This was -the reason why the barges were nearly over to the New York shore, and -not because they were following a plan of their own. - -"Keep to your oars, fellers!" shouted Nim Splugger, when he saw several -of his crew cease rowing. "Never mind that boat! She won't run into us." - -But Nim had his doubts on this point, for the Goldwing did not budge an -inch from her course. Dory had looked over his lines, and was watching -the course of the schooner and the position of the Gildrock. When the -schooner was within ten feet of the barge, Nim gave a frantic yell, and -all the rowers gave up in despair. - -"Keep her away a little, Matt!" called Dory, who was now on his feet -with a line in each hand. - -The Topovers in the Gildrock gave a desperate yell, satisfied that they -should be floundering in the angry waters the next instant. The Goldwing -fell off a trifle at this moment, in obedience to the helm. Dory had -fixed the line in his left hand on the spur of the light boathook, which -he extended as far as he could reach. As he did so, one of the covers -from the cook-stove, which he had secured to the bight between his -hands, dropped into the water. - -Thus arranged, the line formed a snare in the shape of a triangle, the -stove-cover sinking the lower angle a couple of feet under water. As the -skipper held the snare, the Gildrock ran her bow directly into it. The -bight of the line was a slip-noose, and as the schooner drove ahead, it -tightened up. - -As the Goldwing went ahead, Dory paid out the line rapidly, for a single -jerk would have upset the barge. The Topovers in the boat were so -terrified that they did not comprehend what Dory was about. - -"Hard down your helm, Matt!" shouted Dory, with tremendous energy, when -half his line had run out, and the bow of the schooner was abreast of -the stern of the Gildrock. - -Oscar Chester had been stationed at the mainsheet, and the instant Matt -put the helm down he hauled in the sheet with all his might. The effect -of these orders, as they were sharply executed, was to cause the -Goldwing to circle around the stern of the barge, and come up -close-hauled on her starboard side. - -"Now we are all right! It's a success!" cried Dory, with all the -enthusiasm of a person who has won a great victory. - -But even his own crew did not understand what he was about, and had not -the least idea of the working of his plan. All that had been done had -been accomplished in a few seconds, and the rapid working of the -schooner absorbed all their attention. - -When the Goldwing came about under the stern of the barge, Dory rushed -aft with the end of his line in his hand, and made it fast to a cleat. -The rope had sunk in the water, and passed under the keel of the -Gildrock. - -"Touch her up, Matt! Lively, if you please!" said Dory, as he secured -the line in his hand. - -But the schooner had not yet got under full speed since she came about, -and when the mainsail shook she had lost about all her headway. But she -was not permitted to come to. Dory took the helm now, which Matt was -very willing to have him do. - -"Go aft, every one of you!" shouted Dory to the Topovers in the barge. -"If you don't you will be overboard in a moment!" - -The six oarsmen had been stationed in the middle of the boat, leaving -the vacant places forward and aft. Without waiting for orders from Nim -Splugger, the rowers all hurried aft as fast as the uneasy motion of the -craft would permit. This change in her burden caused the bow of the -Gildrock to be lifted out of the water, which was precisely what Dory -desired. Putting the helm of Goldwing up he allowed the yacht to gather -headway by slow degrees. He had lassoed the barge, but he was not -certain of the effect when he should attempt to tow her. The slip-noose -had come home so that the knot was nearly in line with the stem. - -"I see now what you are about," said Matt, while Dory was experimenting -with the process of towing the barge. "But those fellows will cut the -line as soon as they get a little used to the movement of the boat and -understand what you are doing." - -"If any one of them attempts to go forward, we can pitch him into the -lake as quick as we can shift the helm of the Goldwing," replied Dory -confidently. - -"I see!" exclaimed Matt, laughing. "A pull sideways would heel the barge -over so that the water would go over her gunwale." - -"The two four-oar boats are coming!" shouted Dick Short, "Mr. Jepson is -in one of them." - -"Good! We may want some of those fellows before we get through with -this business," replied the skipper. - -"But what are you going to do with your game now that you have snared -it, Dory?" asked Matt. - -"I am going to put the Topovers ashore over here, and send the Gildrock -home at once," answered Dory. "I should have told you about my plan, -Matt, but I didn't believe in it myself until the last minute. I was -sure you would laugh at it; and if I did not succeed in carrying it out -I did not want you to have to bear any of the responsibility of its -failure." - -"I think I should have laughed at it; and I can't help doing so now," -added Matt, suiting the action to the words. - -With the whole length of the line out, the Gildrock towed better than -Dory had expected she would. But the barge both pitched and rolled as it -was dragged at an angle over the waves, and the Topovers in her had to -hold on with both hands. With only half her usual crew, and these all in -the stern sheets, the tow-line did not force her bow under, and she kept -very nearly in her proper trim. - -Finding that she went along very well, Dory headed the Goldwing for the -little cove from which the cheers had come. By this time the Winooski -had got into the smooth water, comparatively, under the lee of the -shore. If Commodore Tom Topover wanted to do anything to assist his -companions in the other boat, he was as fearful of coming about as he -had been in the middle of the lake. As soon as he was under the shelter -of the shore, he headed his craft to the south. But he might as well -have chased the lightning as the Goldwing. - -As the schooner approached the mouth of the cove she was saluted by a -volley of noisy cheers. At the same time the bows of two boats came in -sight. - -"The Chesterfields! We are in for it now!" shouted Ben Ludlow. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. - -COMMODORE TOM TOPOVER VISITS THE GOLDWING. - - -The cheers the Beech Hill students had heard before had evidently been -given by the Chesterfields, and not by a picnic party. Dory was not -pleased to see them after the experience of the day before; and their -last words had been threats of vengeance. The fresh paint could be seen -on the bow of the Dasher where the injury done by the Winooski had been -repaired. - -The Dasher appeared to be the leading boat, and Mad Twinker had changed -from the other barge, and became her coxswain. Wash Barker was not in -either craft, and his place in the Racer was filled by Jeff Monroe, who -had been active in the affair of the day before. - -As soon as the Goldwing appeared off the point, dragging the Gildrock -after her, the Chesterfields set up a yell, and it was plain that they -identified the Beech Hill students who had so thoroughly humiliated them -on the day before. Their lusty cheers indicated that they were ready to -take the vengeance they had promised to obtain. Mad Twinker headed the -Dasher for the Goldwing, and the Racer followed. - -It seemed to be a holiday at the Chesterfield Collegiate Institute, and -the boats' crews had evidently been practising in the cove all the -morning. There was a marked improvement in their rowing; they had -observed the excellent discipline that prevailed on board of the -Winooski, and they had doubtless learned a lesson from what they had -seen. After the Chesterfields had given the three cheers, which did not -appear to mean anything, unless they were cheering their enemy, there -was no whooping or yelling as at the former meeting of the boats. - -"Those fellows promised to get even with us when we parted last night," -said Dory, after they had observed the movements of the Chesterfields -for a few minutes. "I suppose they are ready to begin now." - -"If they do begin now they will have a nice time of it," added Matt. - -"They will never forgive us for compelling them to give up our clothes -before they were ready to do so," continued the skipper. "They are in -better discipline, and behave better this morning than they did -yesterday. But they don't seem to know anything at all about a boat, and -they think they can overhaul the Goldwing without any difficulty." - -"If we run up this cove they will have us on the hips," replied Matt. -"There are twenty-six of them, while we are only nine, and if they catch -us they can have it all their own way." - -"You are right, Matt, and we will not go up the cove. We will go up to -Rock Harbor, and we can land the Topovers long before they can pull that -distance." - -The skipper let off the sheets, and headed the schooner to the south. -She was almost before the wind, and the yacht flew like a locomotive on -her course. In a few minutes the barges were a mile astern of her. At -the mouth of Rock Harbor the wind had a fair sweep, and the sea was -almost as rough as it had been in the middle of the lake. - -As the Goldwing approached the south side of the inlet, Dory rounded to -very carefully, so as not to swamp the Gildrock, though the terrified -Topovers were well shaken up in the manoeuvre. Running into the cove -just far enough to escape the heaviest of the waves, Dory directed his -crew to haul on the tow-line, and bring the Gildrock within talking -distance. Spilling the sail, he allowed the yacht to drift towards the -shore. - -"We intend to put you on shore here," shouted Dory to the occupants of -the Gildrock. - -"We can never get home from here," yelled Nim Splugger. - -"That's your look out. You must go ashore, or we will spill you all out -into the water by the beach," replied the skipper. - -Nim made no reply, for he saw that his captors were in earnest. Dory -directed Matt and Oscar to land them three or four at a time in the -tender. He explained what he meant to do to the prisoners, and -threatened them with a ducking if they resisted. They did not resist, -for they felt that the skipper could have his own way with them. Matt -landed them in two trips; but Nim Splugger showed fight when they were -all on the beach. He attempted to hold on to the tender, but Oscar -pitched him out of the boat into the water. The moment he was out of it, -Matt shoved it from the shore, and they pulled back to the Goldwing. - -It had taken some time to land the Topovers, and by the time the -Gildrock had been properly rigged for towing, the two barges of the -Chesterfields, which had followed the schooner, were within a quarter -of a mile of the point where the marauders had been put on shore. They -made a sweep into the harbor, so as to avoid the rough water. - -"Help! help!" yelled the Topovers on the land, when they saw the barges -approaching them. - -It was not probable that the Chesterfields knew anything about the -Topovers; but they could not help seeing that they had been at war with -the Beach Hill students, and had been defeated. For this reason, -doubtless they sympathized with the ruffians; at any rate they were the -enemies of the Beech Hillers, and this fact made them allies. - -Dory headed the Goldwing out into the lake. The skipper and the crew -watched the movements of the Chesterfields with interest. Possibly the -curiosity of the latter was excited by the scene they had witnessed, and -they wished to inquire into its meaning. At any rate they pulled for the -point where the Topovers had been landed, and the heavy sea prevented -them from following the schooner out into the lake. - -The Chesterfield barges made a landing farther up the harbor, and three -of the marauders were taken into one boat, and four into the other. -They did not remain at the shore a moment after they had picked up their -passengers, but followed the yacht by the inside route. The crews of the -Dasher and Racer had not seen the capture of the Gildrock with the -lasso, and could not have known that the Winooski was making for the New -York shore, a mile or more to the north of them. Their passengers told -them their story, and no doubt they were anxious to see the battle for -the other boat, if not to take a hand in it. - -The presence of the Chesterfields had considerably disturbed the -arrangements of Dory, who had intended to tackle the marauders in the -other barge as soon as he could get rid of the prisoners. It had taken -some time to dispose of them, and it was possible that Tom Topover had -reached the shore by this time. - -"There are the two four-oar boats," said Matt, when they were off the -point north of Rock Harbor. - -"I am glad to see them, for the coming of the Chesterfields at just this -time has mixed things," replied Dory. "We must get rid of the Gildrock, -for we can't do anything dragging her after us. We may have a lively -time of it yet." - -"We can't turn her adrift," added Matt. - -"Of course not; but we can put four of our fellows into her and send -her home," said Dory. - -It was promptly decided to dispose of her in this manner, and Dory -selected the three members of the old Goldwing club who were on board, -making Thad Glovering the temporary coxswain. Ben Ludlow was added to -the number. They objected to leaving the Goldwing just as the battle was -coming on. - -"There will be no fight if I can avoid one," argued the skipper. -"Probably we shall pick up the Winooski in about the same way we did the -Gildrock. You need not hurry home, and you can see from the boat all -there is to be seen. But we must be in a hurry, for the job must be done -before the Chesterfields can get down here to meddle with the affair." - -The objections were overcome, and the four oarsmen were to take the -Gildrock as soon as the Winooski could be seen. Tom Topover had got his -craft into the smooth water, as compared with the open lake, of one of -the numerous inlets when the Gildrock was captured. When last seen, his -crew were laying on their oars watching the operations of the Goldwing. - -The schooner was now approaching this inlet, and the next minute or two -would inform the skipper where she was. About half an hour had elapsed -since she lost her consort. Tom Topover might have gone to the aid of -the rest of his party, and it was strange that he had not done so. The -fact was that he had been jawing with Kidd Digfield more than half the -time in regard to what they should do. The crew did not like the idea of -going out into the rough water again. - -"There's the Winooski!" shouted Thad Glovering, who was lying on the -half deck at the heel of the bowsprit. - -Dory instantly threw the schooner up into the wind, and Matt hauled in -the Gildrock. Thad and his crew were hurried into her, and the Goldwing -filled away again. The Winooski was coming out of the cove, and was just -striking into the rough water. Dory gave the tiller to Matt, and went -forward himself. He had the lasso ready, but he had his doubts about -being able to use it again. - -The skipper directed Matt to tack at the proper moment, and the Goldwing -rushed on her course in a direction to intercept the Winooski. When Tom -Topover saw the schooner approaching, he called Kidd Digfield to the -tiller-lines, and, taking a boathook in his hand, went forward himself. - -"That fellow means fight," said Oscar Chester. - -"No doubt of it; he means it every time, and for that reason you had -better have a boathook in your hand, and be on the forward deck with -me," answered Dory, as he picked up his lasso. "Keep her off a little -more, if you please, Matt." - -The oarsmen of the Winooski showed a disposition to abandon their oars, -for a collision seemed to be inevitable to them. Tom stood in the bow of -the barge with his boathook poised ready to strike. Dory saw that it -would be impossible for him to lasso the boat, and he removed the stove -cover from his line. - -"Luff a little, Matt," called Dory; and the schooner rounded in upon the -barge. This movement seemed to be too much for Tom's nerves, and instead -of striking with the boathook, he used it to fend off. The moment he -bent over, Dory threw his line, not at the stem of the boat, but at the -body of the Topover. The noose went over his head, and dropped down upon -his shoulders. - -"Keep her off!" shouted Dory. - -The instant Tom felt the rope, he dropped the boathook and tried to -seize hold of the bow of the barge. The Goldwing fell off, and dashed -ahead on her course. Dory let off his line a few feet, and then took a -turn with it over a cleat. Tom Topover suddenly felt a smart jerk, which -was irresistible, and he was twitched out of the boat as a fish is -twitched out of the water. - -[Illustration: "Tom Topover suddenly felt a smart jerk, which was -irresistible."--Page 168.] - -With Oscar's help, he was dragged alongside, and pulled on board of the -yacht. It was found that he had the painter of the Winooski in his -hands, which he had grasped in his effort to save himself. Matt had -thrown the schooner up into the wind, and the painter was secured and -made fast. The Winooski brought up at the stern of the Goldwing, -captured by the aid of Tom Topover. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII. - -THE CHESTERFIELDS AND THEIR ALLIES RENEW THE BATTLE. - - -Commodore Topover was bewildered by the sharp practice of the skipper of -the Goldwing. While he was expecting an assault in another direction, he -had been suddenly dragged out of the Winooski into the water, and then -on board of the schooner. The painter of the barge was made fast astern, -and Dory relieved the prisoner from the noose with which he had been -captured. - -Kidd Digfield and his companions in the boat seemed to be almost as much -astonished as the commodore. They were paralyzed by the unexpected -onslaught, and the successor of Tom needed a little time to enable him -to determine what to do. Both craft had come to a standstill, the sails -of the Goldwing shaking in the wind. - -Tom Topover was the first to recover his wits. He had been thoroughly -ducked, but he had not been injured in the operation of taking him out -of the Winooski. He looked about him, and it did not require much time -to enable him to take in the situation. He was a prisoner in the hands -of the students. He was in the same boat with Dory, who had knocked him -over with a single blow of his fist; and the remembrance of this fact -was the first idea that came to him. - -Before Kidd had decided to do anything the wind had driven the barge -astern of the schooner, and whirled her about. In this position there -were only two things Tom's successor could do; one was to haul the boat -alongside the yacht by the painter, board her, and fight it out; and the -other was to cut the painter, and thus recover possession of the barge. -But Tom Topover considered himself as still the commodore of the fleet, -even in the misfortunes which had befallen it, and he proceeded to use -his authority. - -"Kidd Digfield!" called Tom, as soon as he comprehended the situation. -"Haul in on the painter, and fetch her alongside!" - -"I think your fellows had better not try to do that," interposed Dory. - -"I give you two minutes to put me back in that boat," replied Tom, with -a savage glance at the skipper. - -"What if I don't do it?" asked Dory, laughing. - -"I'll give you the biggest licking you ever had in your life. I'll pound -you till you can't see out of your eyes," blustered Tom. - -"You needn't wait two minutes before you begin, for I shall not put you -into the boat," replied the skipper lightly. "Fill away, Matt, if you -please." - -Dory had seated himself in the standing-room opposite the place where he -had deposited Tom when he hauled him on board. As Matt put the helm up, -Tom made a spring at the skipper; but Dory was on his feet in an -instant, warded off the blow of the Topover, and hit him square in the -face. The yacht heeled over at this moment under the pressure of the -wind, and Tom fell back into his seat. - -"We won't have any fight in the boat," said Dory, picking up a reef -pendant. "We will tie his hands behind him, and keep him quiet till we -get rid of him." - -"No you won't tie my hands behind me!" yelled Tom, boiling over with -wrath. - -Oscar Chester sprang upon him, and in spite of his struggles bore him -down upon his back. Dory then assisted him, and between them they had -no difficulty in putting the commodore in a position of -non-interference. - -"The fellows in the boat are hauling in on the painter," said Matt, when -Dory and Oscar had disposed of the obstreperous prisoner. - -"Let them haul on it," replied the skipper laughing. "They will have a -nice time of it. Keep her away a little more, if you please." - -Kidd had got hold of the painter, and Pell Sankland was trying to help -him; but the former could not haul in enough of the line to afford him a -chance to assist. The schooner had got under full headway, and there was -considerable strain on the rope. Three of the Topovers had repaired to -the bow while the other three were about in the middle of the barge. She -was loaded by the head, and as soon as the Goldwing began to force her -through the water at her own pace, the craft scooped up about half a -barrel of water. - -Kidd was sailor enough to see what the matter was, and he hastily -retreated to the stern of the boat, followed by his companions. Not more -than one of them at a time could get hold of the painter, and there was -no danger that the marauders would haul the boat alongside the schooner. -But Kidd soon went forward again, after he had stationed his crew as -far aft as he could get them, and began to saw away with his knife at -the painter. - -Matt let off the sheets, and kept the Goldwing away several points at -once. As he did so, Dory slacked off the painter as much as its length -would permit. When the schooner straightened the line again, she did it -with a violent jerk, at an angle with the length of the barge. The -effect was to tip the boat until her gunwale at the bow went under, and -she shipped another half barrel of water. - -Kidd's nerves were not strong enough to stand this kind of treatment, -and he dreaded what might come next. He retreated to the stern; but not -till he had found that it would have taken him half an hour at least to -saw off the painter with his dull jack-knife. He realized that there was -nothing more he could do. - -The four-oar boats were now within a short distance of the scene of the -strife. The crews had laid upon their oars most of the time, watching -the progress of the action. The Winooski had been taken, and the battle -was finished. It only remained to dispose of the prisoners. Dory had -given the order to head the schooner to the nearest land. The four-oar -boats reached the point off which the yacht had just come up into the -wind. Tom was handed into the boat with Mr. Jepson, who was greatly -amused at the exploits of the boys. He was put ashore, but the reef -pendant was removed from his arms only when he was safe on the beach. - -The tender and the other four-oar boat landed the prisoners from the -Winooski, who had concluded not to make any resistance. As the boats -left the discomfited ruffians on the shore, Tom cast a large stone at -one of them, and the rest proceeded to follow his example. But no harm -was done, and the boats were soon out of the way of their missiles. - -"Homeward bound!" shouted Dory, as soon as he had taken his crew from -the tender on board. - -Two oarsmen were taken from each of the small boats, for the remaining -two could easily pull them across the lake with the wind, and -transferred to the Winooski. Thad Glovering in the Gildrock was close -by, for his party had no idea of leaving the scene while there was any -fun in prospect. The whole squadron, consisting of the Goldwing and the -four row-boats, were within talking distance of each other. The battle -had been fought and won, and there was nothing to do but go home. The -Gildrock was farthest out on the lake, and she led the way. All the -fleet were in the smoother water of the cove. - -"The Chesterfields!" shouted Oscar Chester, when the Goldwing was fairly -under way. "They are just coming around the point; and they have half -the Topovers on board." - -"We need not bother our heads any more about the Chesterfields or the -Topovers," replied Dory. "We have got our boats, and that was all I -wanted." - -"All right," added Oscar, as he settled himself in his seat. - -But the skipper soon came to the conclusions that it was not all right. -The Chesterfield barges had changed their course, and were headed for -the four Beech Hill boats which had just started for home. The Dasher -and the Racer were fully manned, while the Gildrock and Winooski had -each only one-third of a crew. - -"That's bad," said Dory, who began to be very anxious for the safety of -the recaptured barges. - -"I thought it might be," replied Oscar. "But I think we can give them -enough of it to satisfy them in a very few minutes." - -"Do you mean a fight?" asked the skipper. - -"Not a hand-to-hand fight, but if either of those barges attempts to -meddle with the Gildrock or the Winooski, I should run her down," -answered Oscar, with a good deal of vim in his tones. - -"I don't like to do anything of that kind," replied Dory, seriously. -"When we smashed the Dasher yesterday, I did not intend to give her such -a rap." - -"I should say it would be for the Chesterfields and their new allies to -elect whether you smash them or not. But they are making for the -Gildrock, and of course they can easily take her from the four fellows -in charge of her." - -"Of course I don't mean to let them take her from our fellows," added -Dory. "Keep her away; run for the Gildrock, if you please, Matt." - -Thad Glovering pulled the stroke oar of the Gildrock, and he had already -discovered the danger that menaced him in the approach of the -Chesterfield barges. He was making his crew do their utmost; but the -barge had been headed off by the enemy, who were not seen until they -came around the point of land. - -The improvement in the rowing of the Chesterfields was not very -manifest. They had evidently being practising since they obtained their -smashed barge from the builder who had repaired it, and it was just as -plain that they had adopted the stroke of the Beach Hill barges. - -"The Topovers are helping them," said Oscar, who watched the Dasher with -the closest attention. - -"I see they are," replied Dory; "and they are making very good headway." - -A Topover had been placed on the thwart with each student as far as -their number would permit. Mad Twinker was in charge of the head boat, -and he was driving his crew to the limit of their power. But the -Goldwing, even in the higher wind near the weather shore, could make two -miles to the Dasher's one. Matt was directed to run close to the quarter -of the Gildrock; and the schooner came up with her not a moment too -soon, for in spite of Thad's best efforts, the Dasher was all ready to -pounce upon her intended victim. The Racer had continued on her former -course, and was making for the Winooski. It was clear that they intended -to capture both boats. When they had done this probably the -Chesterfields would be satisfied that they had got even with the -Beech-Hillers for the humiliation of the day before. - -The Goldwing was almost before the wind, and she was surging down upon -the Dasher with tremendous speed and power. The Chesterfields did not -look behind them, and they could not have failed to take notice of the -Winooski's drill on the preceding day. Mad Twinker had no little nerve, -but he was appalled at the rushing, surging, roaring approach of the -Goldwing. - -"Sheer off, or I shall run into you!" shouted Dory, on the half deck of -the schooner. "If you meddle with the Gildrock I'll smash your boat." - -Mad could stand it no longer, and he let go one tiller line, and pulled -on the other with all his might. The Dasher whirled around in obedience -to her helm. The Goldwing came about; Dory hove his long line to the -Gildrock, and she was dragged out into the rough sea, out of the way of -her assailant. But the Winooski was by this time in the same peril, and -the schooner hastened to her assistance. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII. - -DORY DORNWOOD DEALS IN MORAL COURAGE. - - -Wash Barker, the former coxswain of the Racer, had resigned his office -partly because he declined to adopt a policy as vigorous as his -followers desired. Probably his successor possessed the qualities which -Wash lacked. Jeff Monroe had seen the Dasher cheated out of her prey, as -he regarded it, and he knew he was sure to be condemned by his -associates if he failed to capture the Winooski. - -Nim Splugger was in the barge with him, and this worthy assured the -coxswain that Dory would not dare to run into him. It was all bully in -his opinion. The crew expressed their disapprobation in very emphatic -terms at the weakness of Mad Twinker in allowing himself to be cheated -out of his game. - -The Goldwing had been obliged to beat up to the position of the -Winooski, and her approach was not so appalling as when she neared the -Dasher. But she had gone well to windward so as to get a good full, and -she was making at least eight knots when she came within hailing -distance of the Racer. Dory gave the same warning as before, and -repeated it several times. But the Racer did not budge. Her crew were -all ready to leap into the Winooski. - -Dory had fully made up his mind to smash the Racer. A collision would -certainly accomplish her destruction. It was probable that the Goldwing -would bear the barge under her bottom, and thus go over her. The -coxswain and all his crew were very ignorant in regard to the management -of a boat, and could not realize the peril to which they were exposing -themselves. - -Probably most of the crew of the Racer could not swim, and, even if they -could, some of them might be seriously injured if the schooner went over -the barge. There was more than a possibility that one or more lives -might be lost in the encounter. The skipper of the Goldwing shuddered -when he thought of such a catastrophe. At the worst, the Chesterfields -could only capture the Winooski; and that would not kill or hurt anyone. -It was not a case of life and death; in fact it was nothing more than a -frolic on the part of the Chesterfields. - -In another instant the Goldwing would strike the Racer, and the -calamity the skipper dreaded must come, either in whole or in part. If -he "backed down," Oscar would laugh at him, and his other companions -would rail at him for timidity. But Dory had the moral courage to brave -any censure or sarcasm rather than expose the lives of the enemy. - -"Down with the helm, Matt!" shouted he with startling energy. - -Matt promptly obeyed, and the sails of the schooner shook in the wind. - -"What did you do that for, Dory?" demanded Oscar Chester, utterly -disgusted at the backing down of the skipper. - -But there was no time to answer the question. Instead of striking the -Racer, the Goldwing was struck by the barge on her broadside. But the -blow came at an angle of about forty-five degrees, and the stem slid off -by the stern. Still it was a hard rap, and the yacht shook under its -force. Doubtless her side was dented and scraped, but she sustained no -injury of any consequence. - -"Keep your places, fellows!" yelled Jeff Monroe, as the rowers began to -stand up and think how they should save themselves, for they thought -the barge was smashed in the collision. "We are all right! Keep your -places!" - -The Racer was not injured, but she was thrown from her course, and -brought up with her stern alongside the schooner. Two of her spoon oars -were broken, and two more of them lost overboard, for all the starboard -oars had been swept from the rowlocks by the contact with the yacht. The -crew were in utter confusion, for their discipline was not proof against -such a scene as that which had just transpired. - -"Do you mean to drown us all?" demanded Jeff. "You have made a pretty -mess of it." - -"You act as though you intended to drown yourself and your crew," -replied Dory, as he directed Matt to fill away again. - -"We shall get even with you yet!" retorted Jeff angrily. - -The barge had come about, so that she was now in the trough of the sea, -though the waves were not heavy; but the motion served to increase the -confusion on board of her. The crew obeyed the order of the coxswain to -keep their seats for the simple reason that they could not stand up in -the rolling craft. In a few minutes Jeff had brought something like -order out of the snarl. - -The discipline on board proved to be not more than skin deep, for about -every one of the crew had something to say, and a general jaw ensued. -Some of them blamed and scolded their coxswain, and hard words were used -before the Goldwing was out of hearing distance. The first business, -when the grumblers had "talked out," was to pick up the oars and the -pieces; and, by the time this was done, the Winooski was out in the -heaviest of the sea. The Goldwing stood off and on between the fleet she -was protecting and the barges of the Chesterfields. The Dasher had gone -to the assistance of the Racer. - -"What under the canopy made you back down, Dory?" asked Oscar, in a more -gentlemanly tone than he had used before when he alluded to the subject. - -"If one of those fellows had been drowned, I should not have forgiven -myself to my dying day," replied Dory. - -"There was no danger of drowning any of them," added Oscar. - -"I don't believe many of them can swim, and I think the Goldwing would -have gone over the Racer. Some of them might have been disabled, so that -they could not have swum, even if they had known how. In a word my -conscience would not let me run into the barge when it came to the -scratch. Though we may look upon the taking of any of our boats as a -serious thing, after all it was only a frolic on the part of the -Topovers and the Chesterfields. I could not risk killing or drowning a -single one of them. That's the whole of it." - -"It would not have been your fault if one of them had been drowned, or -even half a dozen of them," replied Oscar. - -"I think it would have been. If no one had been drowned or hurt in the -collision, some people would have thought we were smart. If a single -life had been lost, they would have said that the affair was nothing but -a boys' frolic, and that we had no right to proceed to such an extreme -measure as running into the barge half a mile from the shore," argued -Dory. "Those fellows are not used to the water, and half a dozen of them -might have been drowned. I am perfectly satisfied now with what I did." - -"Though I was as much carried away by the excitement of the moment as -any of you, and was in favor of running into the barge, I think you did -just right, Dory," added Matt Randolph, convinced by the skipper's -logic. - -"On cool second thought, I am willing to admit that Dory was right," -said Oscar, as he glanced at the Chesterfield fleet. "We saved the -Winooski after all, and that was what we were fighting for." - -"Those fellows have had enough of it for the present," chuckled Matt. -"They are pulling for the point where we landed Tom Topover, and very -likely they are going to pick him up." - -"But we have no further business over here, and we will go home," said -Dory; and Matt headed the Goldwing for the mouth of the river. - -"The Chesterfields will never be content to leave things as they are -now," suggested Oscar. "I know if I were one of them I should try to get -even with you." - -"By and by they will learn to row a boat in a sea, and know something -about handling their craft; and then they will make a visit to Beech -Hill," added Matt. - -"I think we shall be able to take care of ourselves," replied Dory, -shrugging his shoulders like a Frenchman. - -"It looks as though they had formed an alliance with the Topovers, and I -am confident that Tom will never be satisfied until he has had a fight -with Dory and been thoroughly whipped," prophesied Oscar, who was sure -that the skipper could do it "every time." - -With the fresh breeze the four row-boats made good time across the lake, -and were going into the river when the Goldwing dashed past them. This -time Matt brought the schooner up to the wharf without getting aground; -but at the V point, Dory gave him the bearings by which he steered -through this bad place with the current, and was confident that his -friend would never stick there again when he had any kind of fair play. - -Captain Gildrock, with the instructors, were on the wharf when the -Goldwing arrived. The news of the taking of the boats by the Topovers -had been circulated in the town, and the principal was somewhat -disturbed by the occurrence, not especially by the stealing of the -barges, but more by his fears of what might result from a battle between -the students and the marauders. When Bates, who had learned the -particulars from Mr. Jepson, told him that Dory Dornwood was in command -of the expedition which had gone out to recover the boats, he was -somewhat relieved of his anxiety; for he had a great deal of confidence -in the skipper's judgment and discretion, though there was no knowing -what boys would do when they were excited. - -"Where are the boats, Dornwood?" asked Captain Gildrock, as soon as the -party landed. - -"They are coming up the river, sir," replied Dory. - -"And where are Tom Topover and his gang?" - -"We left them on the other side of the lake." Dory proceeded, without -any further questions, to make his report of the taking of the barges, -and the means by which he had recovered possession of them. He stated -the facts just as they were, without flourish or ornament, even to the -intention they had of smashing the Racer by running into her. - -"I am heartily rejoiced that you did not do anything of that kind!" -exclaimed Captain Gildrock, with a considerable show of emotion for him. -"Nothing could have justified you in resorting to such a desperate -measure, unless it was to save life or honor. If one of those boys had -lost his life, it would have been the ruin of the Beech Hill Industrial -School; for popular opinion would have set against us, and we could not -have stemmed the tide." - -"I was terribly excited when I thought of doing it," pleaded Dory. - -"You have done well, my lad; you have behaved splendidly; but the -biggest and best thing you have done was to renounce a bad intention," -added the principal, earnestly. "I cannot look upon this affair as -anything more than a boys' racket, and I am exceedingly thankful that no -catastrophe has come out of it." - -"Should you excuse the Topovers for stealing the boat on the ground that -it was nothing but a racket, a frolic, something done for the fun of -it?" asked Matt Randolph very seriously. - -"By no means; I would prosecute them for stealing the boats if it were -likely to result in anything but a fine which their poor parents would -have to pay," replied the captain. "No one should do wrong for the fun -of it; but there is such a thing as exaggerating a serious matter beyond -its proper proportions." - -The arrival of the boats ended the conversation. Dinner was ready, and -everything proceeded at the institution in its usual order. The rebels -each dined alone in his room. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX. - -SOMETHING MORE ABOUT THE BEECH HILL REBELLION. - - -After dinner the students resumed their study of the plans for the -boat-house and wharf. Some of them went over to the grove in the -afternoon, but nothing more was seen of the Topovers that day. The lake -was too rough to admit of the Chesterfields bringing them over in their -barges. Probably the young gentlemen of the Collegiate Institute got -enough of them before night. - -The next morning the lake was smooth, and the two barges brought the -marauders to the head of Porter's Bay. Some of the Beech Hill students -were in the grove at the time, for it was a quiet place to work on the -plans. Bolly Millweed spent the whole day there, seated on the shore -where he could see the whole water front of the opposite side of the -lake. - -The other students were not deeply absorbed in their study of -architecture, and they observed with interest the landing of the -Topovers. The Chesterfields appeared to be on excellent terms with their -allies, and quite a conference took place between them on the shore. -Doubtless the Beech Hill students were the subjects of the conversation, -for the Topovers frequently pointed in the direction of the estate, and -seemed to be explaining the nature of the locality to their patrons. - -Mad Twinker and Jeff Monroe walked up the hill to the centre of the -grove, where they could see Beech Hill Lake and the school buildings. -But the visitors soon returned to the other side of the lake, and the -Topovers went to their homes. Most of the latter had been truants from -school, and very likely many of them were punished for their misconduct -either by their parents or their teachers. - -Of course a great deal was said by the students at liberty about the -rebels; but those who wore the uniform were emphatic in their -condemnation of those who refused to put it on. The rebels were still -required to stay in their rooms, and their meals were sent in to them. -Each of them had been fitted by the tailor, and had taken his uniform to -his own apartment. - -The principal had sent word to them that, when they desired to return -to their duties, all they had to do was to put on the uniform and take -their places with their schoolmates. Although they were forbidden to -communicate with one another or with the other members of the school, it -is probable that each one knew what the others were doing. - -The rebellion had not worked as they intended and expected. Lew Shoreham -had been appointed the orator of the malcontents, and the battle was to -be fought out with words in the schoolroom. This was not the principal's -way of dealing with such cases. He gave the "jingo" element no chance at -all. - -On one of the first days of the school he detected a couple of students -in the act of engaging in a fight. Investigation showed that there was -no grievance between the parties, and the battle was to see which was -"the best man." He locked them both up in the machine shop, and gave -them two hours to ascertain which was the best man. With no one to -witness the encounter they did not care to fight, and came out good -friends. - -The rebels could not help feeling that their enterprise had already -"come to grief." Lew Shoreham's argument had been prepared, but it was -unspoken, and was likely to remain so while its author pined in the -solitude of his chamber. The malcontents could not confer together, for -Bates would not allow any two of them to meet in the halls. Bart -Cornwall tried to talk with Lick Milton in the next room, but the -remorseless jailer threatened to put him in the black hole if he said -another word; and he did not. - -Each rebel, therefore, was compelled to think and act for himself. He -could not lean on his leader or his companions. Life Windham was one of -the most restless under his confinement. He liked to know what was going -on, and he found himself shut out from the world and all that was in it. -The principal had begun his announcement of the prizes for the best -plans when the conspiracy broke out. Life concluded that he must have -deferred the business till the rebellion was disposed of, and he -wondered what he had said to the rest of the students about the refusal -to wear the uniform. - -Life fretted and worried over his situation until after dinner of the -second day. Then he went over the whole subject of the uniform in his -own mind. He thought he was abused and persecuted, but he could stand it -no longer. Impulsively he put on the uniform which hung at the head of -his bed. It was a good fit and he thought he looked well in it. He tried -on the cap with the monogram in front. It was neat and plain, and the -only objection he had to it was that it was part of the uniform. - -He was so anxious to learn what was going on at the school, and what the -principal had said about the rebels when they left, that he went out -into the hall. Bates was on his feet the instant the door was opened. -The old man smiled when he saw that Windham wore the uniform, and as the -ex-rebel passed him, he saluted him as politely as though he had never -been his prisoner. - -The dormitory was located near the rocks, at a little distance from the -lake, which could not be seen from its windows. Life Windham knew -nothing at all about the stealing of the boats by the Topovers, and the -lively scenes on the lake in the forenoon. It was after one o'clock, and -the students ought to be in the shops. He went there, but they were -deserted. - -Life concluded that the principal had given the rest of the students a -vacation as a reward of merit for not joining the rebellion. He walked -to the lake. Seated in one of the four-oar boats, busily engaged in -drawing on a large sheet of brown paper, he found Dory. As -stroke-oarsman the ex-rebel sat next to the coxswain in the Winooski, -and he was more intimate with him than with any other student. When Dory -saw him getting into the boat, he rolled up his drawings, and put a -rubber band around them. - -"Hallo, Dory!" said Life, as he walked aft in the boat. - -"Glad to see you, Life," replied the coxswain. "You look well in the new -uniform." - -"I couldn't stay in my room any longer, but I have not changed my -opinion in regard to making us wear a uniform," added Life, who could -not even now back wholly down. "But what are you doing? Why are the -fellows not in the shops?" - -"One question at a time. I am trying to make a plan for a boat-house. -The principal gave the students three days to get up their plans, and -they are to be handed in day after to-morrow morning." - -"Did the principal offer the prizes?" asked Life, astonished that it had -been done in the absence of the rebels. - -"Of course he did; he had opened the subject before you left the -schoolroom." - -"But I thought he would put it off after one third of the whole school -had left." - -"He don't do things in that way," added Dory. - -"But what are the conditions? Perhaps I am not too late, for I had some -ideas about a plan." - -"We are not allowed to speak to anyone about the plans," answered Dory. -"Every fellow is put on his honor to say nothing to anyone about them." - -"Then the eight fellows that object to being dressed like monkeys are to -be shut out from the competition!" exclaimed Life indignantly. "That is -about as unfair as anything can be." - -"You had the same chance that the rest of us had, and you chose to stay -in your room rather than hear the terms on which the prizes were to be -given." - -"We were standing up for a principle." - -"Whew!" whistled Dory laughing. "The principle that you won't wear the -colors of the Beech Hill Industrial School." - -"The principle that we won't be punished for the sins of others," -retorted Life smartly. - -"You are wrong on the fact, as I have shown you before." - -"It's no use to argue the point with you: if the principal had only -been fair enough to hear what Lew Shoreham had to say, we should have -been fully justified." - -"He never argues the point with those who refuse to obey." - -"No matter. Have you heard anything more from the Chesterfields?" - -"We had a smart brush with them this forenoon," answered the coxswain; -and he proceeded to tell the whole story of the encounter with the -Topovers and their allies. - -Life Windham listened with breathless interest. It was the liveliest -affair of the whole season, and he had been shut up in his room. He was -vexed and indignant that he had not been permitted to take a hand in the -stirring enterprise. When he had finished the narrative Dory wanted to -work on his plan, and Life left him. He found all the other students at -liberty were engaged in the same way. - -Life had to spend the afternoon by himself. Late in the day he saw Bob -Swanton come out of the dormitory with the uniform on. He was just -beginning to ask himself if he had not been a traitor to the "cause," -and to the rebels engaged in it. He was glad to see one of them. Life -was pleased to have a companion, and they talked over the situation. - -"Not the least notice seems to have been taken of us," said Swanton. - -"Not the slightest," added Life. "Why, the principal did not even say a -single word about us after we left the schoolroom, and has not mentioned -us in any way." - -"He is the oddest principal I ever heard of. I suppose he will let the -fellows stay in their rooms all winter," continued Bob Swanton, who had -pluck enough to fight, but not enough to be ignored. - -"I have come to the conclusion that Lew Shoreham ought to have made his -argument when the order to put on the uniform was given," said Life, -rather sheepishly; "for the principal was certainly ready to hear all -the fellows had to say at that time. Lew didn't say a word about -punishing us for the sins of others then." - -"I asked him why he did not, and he said he had not thought of it at -that time." - -But the supper-bell ended the discussion, and the two ex-rebels went to -the house with the other students. Captain Gildrock saw them, but he -made no remark of any kind about their return to duty, or the fact that -they wore the uniform. The rest of the students seemed to be glad to see -them, but they would not allude to the rebellion. - -The next morning. Harry Franklin and Phil Gawner appeared in uniform; -and at night only Lew Shoreham remained a prisoner. The next morning the -plans for the prizes were to be handed in, and when the school had -assembled, quite a number of the students had rolls of drawings in their -hands; but many of them had nothing to show for their three days' study -of architecture and engineering. - -At the appointed hour the principal came in and took his place on the -platform. A moment later Lew Shoreham entered in full uniform, with the -cap in his hand. - -"May I be permitted to make an explanation?" said the last of the -rebels, rising in his seat. - -"In my private office at the close of the school," replied Captain -Gildrock. - -That was not what the chief rebel wanted. - - - - -CHAPTER XX. - -THE VISITING COMMITTEE AT BEECH HILL. - - -"I wish to protest----" - -"Take your seat, Shoreham!" interposed the principal very sternly. - -The last of the rebels obeyed, and did not appear to be at all angry or -indignant. Possibly he was about to protest in order to save -appearances. Most of the students smiled as they saw the young orator -deprived of his only chance to plead the cause to which he had been a -martyr for the last three days. - -Captain Gildrock repeated the terms on which the prizes were to be -given, so that there should be no mistake in regard to them. The -ex-rebels listened, though the subject had little interest in the -competition, for they had ruled themselves out of it. Not the remotest -allusion was made to their misconduct. - -"I have invited three gentlemen to spend a few days with me," continued -the principal. "One of them is an architect, another is a civil -engineer, and the third is a salesman in a hardware store in Boston. -They will form the committee to award the prizes for the best plans. -They will arrive this forenoon, and as soon as they come to a decision, -I shall inform you of the result." - -The captain then instructed Mr. Darlingby to receive the plans and make -sure that there was no distinguishing mark on any of them except the -character on the envelope containing the name of the competitor. He was -to retain the envelopes and lock them up in the safe. As a further -precaution he was required to paste a piece of paper over the character -on the plans so that even this could not be seen by the committee. - -The principal then left the schoolroom, declining even to see the rolls -of drawings. As soon as he had gone, sixteen plans were presented. This -was a greater number than the principal had expected. Mr. Darlingby -carried out the instructions given him, and sent the drawings to the -mansion house. The studies of the classes proceeded as usual during the -forenoon. - -The three gentlemen who were expected appeared at dinner, and the -students regarded them with interest. In the afternoon they visited the -shops and inspected the tools and machinery. The first class were now at -work as carpenters, and the second as machinists. - -"As soon as we have decided on the plans, all the students will be -carpenters for a time," said Captain Gildrock, who explained his plans -with considerable enthusiasm to the visitors. "I intend that the -students shall do almost all the work of building the new boat-house, -though I shall have laborers enough to do the lifting and digging." - -"You have excellent tools and machinery in every department," suggested -Mr. Plint, the architect. - -"Good tools do a great deal towards making good workmen," replied the -principal. "Every student has been instructed how to keep his tools in -good order. Of course there is a difference in them so far as skill is -concerned, but everyone can grind a chisel or plane-iron." - -"One of the boys invented a piece of apparatus by which any desired -bevel can be given to a tool at the grindstone," interposed Mr. Jepson, -as he exhibited the machine to the visitors. - -It was simply an iron plate, taken from a useless invention, and set at -the edge of the stone. It could be adjusted at any angle for a long or -a short bevel. Some of the work done with it was shown, and the guests -said it was as true as could be done by the manufacturers. On a bench -near the grindstone, which was turned by steam, were oil-stones of two -kinds, one rather coarse and the other fine. Lew Shoreham was putting a -chisel in order at one of them. - -"That is the inventor of the grinding apparatus," said Mr. Jepson. - -Shoreham was a lion for the time, and the visitors were introduced to -him. He was highly commended for his inventive power. When he had -finished whetting the chisel, Mr. Plint examined it, and declared that -it was sharp enough to shave with. - -Thus far about all the work done by the students had been in fitting up -the shops, though each one had made a dressing-case for his room. In the -middle and at each end of the carpenters' shop was a case containing -forty-nine small drawers, which had been made by Corny Minkfield, Steve -Baxter and Ned Bellows, who were reckoned the best workmen in the second -class. They were natural mechanics, though they were rather low in -scholarship. - -"But do they like to work?" asked Mr. Bridges, the civil engineer. - -"They would work here from the time they get out of bed in the morning -till dark if we would let them," replied Mr. Brookbine. "I don't know -that they are particularly fond of the hard work of sawing and planing, -though we do most of it by machinery. But in every job there is a great -deal of variety; and this makes even the hard work easy. The boys are -all the time studying out how to do it, and this affords them a sort of -excitement which amounts to fascination." - -"What are those trap-doors at the end of each bench?" asked Mr. Ritchie, -the salesman. - -"Those are a device of one of the boys," replied the master carpenter. -"Captain Gildrock rightly insists that the shops shall be kept as neat -as the parlor in the house. Formerly the shavings had to be taken up and -put into barrels, which were conveyed to the engine-room, under the -machine shop." - -Mr. Brookbine pulled a small cord under the bench, which opened one of -the trap-doors. Slipping the cord into a slot, a knot held the cover in -place. Each student was provided with a long and a short handled dust -brush, which were hung up at each end of the bench. He was required -frequently to sweep his chips and shavings down the trap. - -"Phil Gawner is the author of this device. He has also projected a -wooden railroad, by which the shavings can be received into cars under -the traps, and conveyed to the furnace-room. The boys are not mechanics -enough yet to build the cars; but probably it will be done one of these -days." - -"What sort of a machine is that?" asked Mr. Flint, pointing to a piece -of apparatus that hung upon the wall. - -It was a square piece of plank eighteen inches across, in which a -quarter of a circle had been cut out at one corner. In the middle of it -another square piece of plank had been fastened, and on each side of the -quarter circle were two wooden screws. - -"That is an invention of Jim Alburgh. I call it an invention, though -others may have used the same thing, for it is original with this -student," replied Mr. Brookbine. "You see the frames containing the -printed regulations of the school. The boys made these frames. They had -a great deal of difficulty in holding the parts securely while they -nailed the corners. Jim devised this apparatus. The two parts, when -mitred, are screwed up in this thing, and held together as firmly as -though they had grown into the position." - -Some pieces of plain turning were shown to the visitors, but not much -time had been devoted to the lathes. In this part of the shop were -observed the same tendency to "improve things," and the same skill in -remedying defects, inventing apparatus to secure facility or correctness -in the work. One fellow had devised a plan to prevent a band from -running off the speed-wheels; another had arranged a shelf to hold his -tools while he was at work; and a third had adjusted a marker on his -rest with which he could lay out the distances on his wood. - -"The boys seem to be as much interested as though they were engaged in a -game of base ball," said Mr. Bridges. - -"They would leave a game of base ball any time to work in the shops," -replied Captain Gildrock. "Of course Mr. Brookbine and Mr. Jepson have -to adapt the work to the students, and see that there is variety enough -in it to keep their minds active. If they set them to sawing, planing, -filing or boring iron, simply to learn how to do these things, they -would soon get disgusted. They want to 'make something;' and while they -are doing so, they don't mind the strain on the bones and muscles. I -don't know how they will take to framing the new building, for that is -hard labor, and spruce timber is hard to work." - -"With good tools in good order they will do very well; and building the -house is a big thing for boys to do," added the master carpenter. "By -the way, we have no framing tools." - -"You are not a drummer, Mr. Ritchie, but I dare say you will take an -order when you return," added the principal, laughing. - -"Always ready to sell goods," replied the salesman. "I have no samples -of the goods you want," added Mr. Ritchie. - -"All our tools and machinery came from Wilkinson's, and I am willing to -buy without seeing a sample," continued Captain Gildrock. - -The shipmaster had made the acquaintance of John Ritchie while -purchasing the tools and machinery for the school. He was a model -salesman, and the captain had taken a great fancy to him. He had invited -him to spend his vacation at Beech Hill, and as an excuse for paying his -travelling expenses, he had invited him to serve on the committee to -award the prizes. - -"What tools do we need, Mr. Brookbine?" asked the principal. "I thought -you gave me lists of all that would be wanted." - -"When I did so I had no idea that the boys would ever have occasion to -frame a building. The first things we want are a steel square and -compasses for each student, for I intend to have the boys lay out the -work as well as do it; that is, after the general plan for framing the -house is arranged. Everyone must learn to use the square and compass." - -"Square and compasses," added the captain, laughing. "We use a compass -on board of a vessel." - -"You are right, captain; the dividers are properly compasses, and they -ought always to be called so to distinguish them from the marine -instrument, but many carpenters use the word in the singular form. The -square and compasses, with a set of framing chisels and a few more heavy -mallets than we have, will be all the different articles we shall need." - -Captain Gildrock gave the order at once, and Mr. Ritchie wrote it down. -After a survey of the schoolroom and the dormitory, the visitors were -taken to the lake. Bates pulled them over to the grove and they -carefully looked over the shores on both sides in preparation for the -examination of the plans. The next morning they engaged in their work -upon the plans submitted. The master carpenter and the master machinist -were added to the committee at the request of the visitors. The -following day was Saturday, and a grand excursion around Lake Champlain -was arranged for the guests. - -After breakfast the students put on their steamer uniform, and took -their stations on board of the Sylph. The visitors were greatly amused -as well as delighted when they saw the students in their places on -board. The attentive scholar of the schoolroom, the inventor in the -workshops had become a cook, a waiter, a pilot, or a deck hand. Mr. -Plint insisted that it was all decidedly funny. - -They looked with wonder at Oscar Chester at the wheel in the -pilot-house, where he had the helm alone. But he knew what he was about, -though Dory Dornwood, the first pilot, kept a close watch upon the -movements of the steam yacht. The dinner was not only elaborate but -excellent; and the visitors returned to Beech Hill deeply impressed by -what they had seen. - -On Monday morning they were ready to report on the plans. - - - - -CHAPTER XXI. - -THE ORATOR OF THE REBELS OBTAINS A HEARING. - - -The students gathered in the schoolroom as usual on Monday morning. -There was no little excitement, even among those who had no interest in -the prizes, for it had been announced that the awards would be made at -this time. So closely had every student who had any ideas in regard to -the plan or location kept them to himself, that no one could even make a -guess as to who would get the prizes. - -"We have found some merit in all the plans," said Mr. Plint, who was the -chairman of the committee. "We agreed that it was a tremendous -undertaking for young gentlemen under twenty to plan a wharf and a -building, and it was hardly to be expected that a single one of their -efforts would be acceptable. But all have had the benefit of the thought -and study the subject has given them, and the unsuccessful ones may reap -a harvest in the future from it of a thousandfold more value than the -prizes. - -"We are unanimous in our conclusion, and we come to the award without -any doubt or hesitation. It is no discredit to the students to say that -the plans to which the prizes were awarded were the only ones which were -practicable. In some the building was twice as large as necessary, with -a large portion of the space within it wasted. In others it would cost a -million dollars to carry out the ideas of the competitor. - -"In one it would be impossible for the steamer to come up to the wharf -without backing on a stern-line. One did not put a single window in his -building, even for the hall; and another supplied no stairs by which the -second story could be reached. In one instance, the dressing-rooms could -only be reached by going up stairs, and passing through the hall. - -"But some of the plans which contain the greatest defects also include -some of the most meritorious features. The successful plan for the -boat-house and the one for the wharf and location are admirably fitted -to each other. The committee visited the locality, and carefully -examined the natural structure of the land and the depth of water. The -fortunate competitor has taken advantage of the formation of the shore -for the wharf and the docks for the row-boats; but it would be -impossible to erect the buildings according to most of the plans." - -"Was the plan for the building that fitted this location best selected -for that reason, sir?" asked Ben Ludlow. - -"A pertinent question, young gentleman," replied Mr. Plint, with a -smile. "The committee awarded the prize for the building before they -considered or even looked at the plans for the wharf and location. We -decided upon the merits of the plan for the boat-house so that its -fitness for the locality might not influence us. I need not say anything -more, except to repeat that all the plans, in spite of the defects that -may be found in them, contain much that is creditable to amateur -architects and engineers." - -As he finished his remarks, he handed two rolls of drawings to the -principal. The students gazed at them eagerly, but there was nothing -about them which enabled any student to determine to whom they belonged. -A kind of buff wrapping-paper was provided for rough drawings, and, as -all the scholars had used this article, the rolls were just alike. - -"I am satisfied that the committee have acted with the utmost fairness, -though I have not been present at any of their sessions," said Captain -Gildrock. - -"I wish to say for myself and Mr. Jepson, that we have not the remotest -suspicion to whom the prizes have been awarded," interposed Mr. -Brookbine. "The handwriting of the boys is so nearly the same thing that -it gave us no clew to the winner." - -"If any student has any objections to make to the fairness of this -transaction, now is the time, and the only time there will be, to make -them," added the principal. - -At this remark Lew Shoreham rose from his seat, and the boys wondered if -he intended to deliver the oration he had prepared as a protest against -a uniform. - -"I am sorry to feel obliged to object--not, I beg to say, in the most -emphatic manner,--to the fairness of the committee," the last of the -rebels began, pluming himself for a speech which promised, as usual, to -be of considerable length. "Our honored principal was kind enough to say -the 'fairness of this transaction,' from which I infer that the whole -subject of the plans and prizes is included." - -"Certainly," added the principal rather brusquely, as though he -understood what was coming. "But you must confine yourself to the -subject now before the school." - -"That is my intention," replied Shoreham, with a polite bow to the head -of the school. "The objection I feel compelled to make is, that nearly -one third of the school--eight out of twenty-six, to speak with -mathematical accuracy--have been shut out from the competition." - -Mr. Bridges had to stuff half his pocket handkerchief into his mouth to -ward off an outburst of laughter at the high-flown speech of the -speaker, and the other members of the committee were equally amused, -though their risibles were more controllable. - -"Eight of the students of this useful institution, some of whom had -ideas in the sublime science of architecture, and in the equally -important subject of civil engineering, were prevented from embodying -those ideas in the form of plans, and presenting them for consideration -in this competition," Shoreham proceeded, evidently believing that he -had produced a sensation in the committee. - -"What prevented them from competing for the prizes, Shoreham?" asked the -matter-of-fact principal, who had not a great stock of patience under -the infliction of a high-flown speech. - -"The eight students alluded to unfortunately differed from the authority -of the school, and from a majority of their fellow-students, in a matter -relating to the discipline of the institution. They were sentenced to -confinement in their several apartments. While they were thus -compulsorily absent from the usual assemblage of the students"-- - -Mr. Bridges could stand it no longer; the handkerchief failed as a -preventive, and he had to indulge in a fit of audible laughter, in which -the other members of the committee politely joined. - -"This was a solemn and important matter to the students alluded to," -continued Shoreham, with the utmost seriousness, for he could not tell, -for the life of him, what the fat civil engineer was laughing at. "It -involved their rights and privileges. While they were thus excluded, by -authority which they were too loyal to disregard"-- - -"And Bates was too vigilant to permit them to disregard," the principal, -now as much amused as his guests, interjected. - -"Without introducing any unnecessary details, I need only say that the -eight students, whose deportment was usually unobjectionable, and who -habitually discharged with fidelity their obligations to the institution -and its respected founder, were excluded, by authority, from the -particular assemblage of the pupils in which the prizes were offered for -the plan and location. The other students were forbidden to speak with -any persons in regard to the plans, and the eight were unable to obtain -the terms of the offer, and were thus circumstantially shut out from the -competition. For myself and the other students who were thus unjustly -excluded, I wish to protest against the award about to be made, and to -suggest that the offer be repeated, so that the eight may have the -opportunity to stand on the same footing as their fellow-students." - -"As I am charged with injustice and unfairness, I should like to have -the committee settle this question," said Captain Gildrock, who appeared -to be in an unusual mood for him, for he was laughing as merrily as the -stout civil engineer. "I will agree to abide by your decision, -gentlemen." - -"For myself and my associates whom I represent, I assent to this -magnanimous proposition," replied Shoreham. - -From motives of delicacy the committee objected to deciding the matter, -but, at the request of the captain, they finally consented, regarding -the whole business as a farce rather than a matter of serious -importance. The students were rather impatient, for they wanted to know -to whom the prizes had been awarded, and most of the rebels were -satisfied that they had been in the wrong. - -Shoreham had already stated the question, and the chairman, declaring -that they understood it perfectly, declined to allow Shoreham to make -another speech. - -"You were shut up in your room, and could not find out the terms of the -offer; that's the whole thing in a nutshell, isn't it?" said Mr. -Bridges, turning to the orator of the rebels. - -"The question you ask, sir, naturally and logically involves the reason -why we were confined to our apartments," replied Shoreham,--and this -seemed to be the place where the oration could be properly introduced. - -"Dry up, Lew!" called Windham, in a whisper loud enough to be heard by -all in the room, calling forth a burst of laughter. - -"If we were properly and justly incarcerated"-- - -Mr. Bridges exploded again. - -"Never mind that, Mr. Shoreham," interposed the chairman of the -committee. - - - "No rogue e'er felt the halter draw - With good opinion of the law," - - -chuckled the civil engineer. - -"We were acting on principle, sir," said Shoreham warmly. - -"Exactly so!" exclaimed the jolly Mr. Bridges. "Let me tell you of a -terrible outrage inflicted on one of my neighbors in a small town in -another State. His name was on the voting-list, but when the day of -election came, he was not allowed to vote. He was robbed of the dearest -right of an American citizen. He was ruthlessly debarred from -constitutionally expressing his choice for a governor of the State. -Wasn't it awful?" - -"I should say that it was an outrage, as you called it in the beginning. -But why was he debarred from his right?" asked the orator. - -"He was shut up in the house of correction," laughed the fat -committee-man. - -"Oh, for some crime!" exclaimed the representative of the rebels. - -"That depends upon how you look at it. He did not regard that for which -he was shut up as a crime; in fact, he was acting on principle," -chuckled the jolly disputant. "He claimed that it was right to sell -liquor, though the law of the State made it a crime. At any rate, his -business was such that he could not leave, even to vote. His case was -just like yours, only a great deal worse, Mr. Shoreham." - -The students indulged in a round of hearty applause, and the orator -found it utterly impossible to meet the argument contained in this -parallel case. He subsided. Captain Gildrock was satisfied with the -decision of the committee, and so were all the students, with the -possible exception of Shoreham. The papers that covered the characters -on the two rolls were removed by Mr. Darlingby, and the same one -appeared on both of them. - -"Both prizes have been awarded to the same student, I see," said the -principal, while the instructor went for the envelopes. - -The character was the Greek letter Beta, and the two envelopes, thus -indorsed, were handed to the principal. There was intense excitement -when he opened them. - -"Bolingbroke Millweed," Captain Gildrock read from the enclosures of -both, and a round of applause followed. - - - - -CHAPTER XXII. - -BOLLY EXPLAINS HIS PLANS FOR THE BOAT-HOUSE AND WHARF. - - -Bolingbroke Millweed was a good scholar and a fair mechanic, but both -instructors and students were astonished when both prizes were awarded -to him. He had formerly been a "swell," but he had entirely recovered -from the malady which made him such. Only a few weeks before he was too -proud to work with his hands. - -His pride, or rather vanity, had kept down his manhood, and made of him -what the genuine boy called a "donkey." His father had become the "head -of the family," at home, and introduced a new order of things. The two -sons were in the Beech Hill School, and the two girls were not only -earning their own living, but were doing a great deal towards the -support of the family. - -The new order of things had placed Bolly, as everyone called him, on his -own proper level. It had developed faculties which had been dormant, -and made him a useful as well as a sensible young man. The result of the -competition proved that he had talent of a high order, and that the -industrial school was bringing it out. - -Bolly was fairly popular among his associates, though there was nothing -magnetic about him. He was not likely to become a leader among men, but -Mr. Plint thought he had the right kind of ability to make a good -architect. The practical education he was now receiving was exactly what -he needed. While he was learning to draw, he was also obtaining a -knowledge of practical carpentry and work in metals, as well as an -insight into other trades. - -The boys had given the successful competitor a liberal demonstration of -applause, which proved that they had no ill-will or jealousy; of if they -had, they were ashamed to manifest it. The excitement had been intense, -and it did not seem to moderate after the prizes had been awarded. The -students wanted to know all about the plans and the location, and how -the wharf was to be built. - -Captain Gildrock took from his pocket a couple of fifty-dollar bills, -and laid them on the desk, and Bolly was called to the platform. Another -round of applause greeted him, and the principal did not object to it. -The victor was formally introduced to each of the visitors, who took him -by the hand and congratulated him upon his success. Mr. Bridges said he -could not help laughing when he thought of the triumphant architect -doing duty as third fireman in the hold of the Sylph. - -"If this boy should happen to become an architect in the future, do you -suppose that what he learns in the fireroom of the steamer will be any -disadvantage to him?" said the principal. - -"On the contrary, I think what he learns in any capacity will be of -immense value to him," replied the civil engineer earnestly. "In fact, -it would be worth all it cost in any calling." - -"I noticed that this young gentleman's brother was first cook," added -Mr. Plint. "I have often had to get up designs and make drawings for -hotels, prisons, insane asylums, and other buildings in which a kitchen -was a very important apartment. Now, I am sure, if I had ever been a -cook I should have been better fitted to manage the details of such a -department." - -"An eminent surgeon told me he was sorry he had not learned to be a -carpenter or a machinist after he graduated from college, for a -knowledge of these arts would make him a better surgeon," Mr. Bridges -remarked. - -"Now, Millweed," continued the principal, "the students want to know all -about your plans,"--and this observation was greeted with a clapping of -hands. "I propose that you shall tell them yourself, and explain your -plans in full." This remark was applauded. "There is a large, clean -blackboard behind you, and you may do it in your own way." - -"I am no orator, as Brutus is," replied Bolly, blushing. - -"Brutus Shoreham!" exclaimed one of the boys, and all the assembly -laughed; and from that time the last of the rebels was called Brutus by -the students oftener than anything else. - -"I am afraid I can't speak well enough to make myself understood," said -Bolly, as he looked nervously at the blackboard and then at the -students. - -"You need not declaim it; only tell what your plans are, just as you -would explain them to one of your companions over in the grove," added -Captain Gildrock, encouragingly. - -"I will try, sir. Shall I explain the building, or the location first," -asked Bolly. - -"Suit yourself, Millweed." - -"Then I will begin with the location," replied the successful -competitor, as he took a crayon and turned to the blackboard, where he -rapidly sketched the shore-line of the northeast corner of Beech Hill -Lake. - -This part of the lake formed a considerable bay, abreast of which was -the school building and shops, while the dormitory was near the rocks at -the foot of Beech Hill. About one third of the way across the lake was a -low peninsula, whose surface was nearly flat, and not more than three -feet above the usual level of the lake. This point projected out into -the lake about ten rods, and formed the western shore of the -bay,--called by the boys Hornet Bay, on account of a quarrel some of -them had had with insects of that name, in which the hornets got the -better of them. - -"This is Chowder Point," Bolly began, indicating with the pointer the -projection of rocks, which had formerly been much used for picnic -purposes. "This is the location I have chosen for the boat-house." - -"Why didn't you put it on the other side of the lake?" asked one of the -students, who thought it was too far from the old wharf. - -"Chowder Point is just the same distance from the shop and schoolroom -as the old wharf, and only half the distance from the dormitory," -replied Bolly, with patient dignity. - -"And about the same distance from the mansion-house," added the -principal. "I must ask the students not to interrupt the speaker, and -not to ask any more questions until he has finished his explanation." - -While the captain was making this remark, Bolly dashed off a -parallelogram, rather more than twice as long as it was wide. It covered -the end of Chowder Point, the extremity of which extended a short -distance outside of it. - -"This figure represents the location of the boat-house," continued -Bolly, using the pointer. "You observe that about one third of the -building is on the land, or rocks, and the rest of it is over the -water." - -"But where does the wharf come in?" asked an excited student. - -"No questions!" interposed the principal. "You need not answer it, -Millweed." - -"I shall come to the wharf in a few minutes," replied Bolly. "The main -building, represented by this parallelogram, is to be ninety-one feet -long by thirty-one feet wide,--rather narrow for the length, you will -say; but the proportions will be improved a little before I finish." - -The speaker took the crayon and marked off the docks for the barges. -They opened at the south end of the structure, into Hornet Bay. He had -made the inner ends of the two docks something in shape of the bows of -the boats, so that the idea could be better obtained by the listeners. - -"These docks are fifty-four feet long, and nine feet wide. The space -between them is a platform six feet wide. Next to the walls of the -building on each side is a platform three feet wide. You will see that I -am giving you the plan of the building as well as the location; but this -seems to be the most natural way to do it." - -Bolly then drew a section of the structure, looking at the south end of -it. At the lower part on each side four feet were added to the breadth -of the house, increasing it to forty feet, with the allowance for the -thickness of the sides. But this addition was only one fourth of the -whole height of the house. It had a slanting roof, making the addition -what used to be called a "lean-to." - -The excitement of the boys increased as Bolly advanced with his plans, -and they wondered what this narrow strip on each side of the building -could mean. They wanted to ask questions, and it was hard work for them -to keep from bursting out into a volley of inquiries. The amateur -architect drew a great many lines across this narrow addition, which -tended to throw some light on the mystery. But the added strips looked -very like a couple of ladders. - -"These are the dressing-rooms," Bolly proceeded, when he had finished -this part of the drawing. "There are forty of them, as required in the -terms, and each of them is four feet by three. From each a door opens to -the outside platforms on the docks." - -At this point the students took it all in, and a round of applause -greeted this feature, which the boys thought was an admirable one. The -oarsmen could come out of the dressing-rooms in which they had put on -their uniforms, and step directly into the barges. - -"These additions to the sides are only six feet high at the eaves and -seven at the walls. The lower story of the boat-house is twelve feet -high. This leaves five feet of space above the roof of the -lean-to,--that's what my father calls the L of his house. In this space -are to be ten windows on each side. There are also four windows over -the doors at the end of the boat-house by which the barges are to be -admitted." - -"I think your building will be well lighted, Mr. Millweed," interposed -Mr. Plint, thinking the speaker appeared to have some doubts on this -point. - -"Thank you, sir," replied Bolly, much gratified at the architect's -approval. "Six feet from the inner ends of the docks will be a fence, -with a gate opposite each platform," continued the speaker, indicating -it by a dotted line. "The dressing-rooms end at this fence. Then there -is a passage-way ten feet wide across the house. At the shore end of it -is the principal entrance." - -Bolly then divided the space on the plan north of this passage-way into -four parts, and said they were the two storerooms, the sailroom, and the -paint shop. Against the sides at this end of the structure he made two -more additions, wider than the others. The one on the shore side was for -the stairs to the hall; the other was for one of the four-oar boats; and -a third was run along the water part of the north end for the other. -Bolly explained these features of the plan at some length. - -"The wide passageway through the building from the main entrance to the -water side of the building leads to the wharf," continued the speaker, -pointing to it on his drawing. "You will observe that the great doors on -the water side are in the middle of the tip end of Chowder Point. The -rock extends only four feet outside of it. - -"The wharf is to be in the form of the letter T," Bolly proceeded, -drawing this pier in the place where his plan located it. "The cross -part, or top of the T, is to be sixty feet from the boat-house, and is -to be reached by a wooden bridge ten feet wide, with a single span of -fifty-six feet. The landing part of the wharf is a huge caisson, or box, -sixty feet long by twelve feet wide, which is to be built at the shore, -floated to the place where it is to be located, and sunk with rocks; and -the bottom of the lake at this place is almost parallel with the surface -of the water." - -The students were filled with wonder by these last details. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII. - -VOLLEYS OF QUESTIONS ASKED AND ANSWERED. - - -Bolingbroke finished his explanation without any flourish, and when he -had done he stopped, which all orators are not able to do. He was about -to take his seat when the volley of questions was discharged at him; and -the principal was obliged to interpose so that the inquiries could be -dealt with one at a time. - -"You need not answer any question, Millweed, unless you are willing to -do so," he added. - -"I am perfectly willing," said Bolly. "I suppose they have all found -some objections to my plans, and I should rather like to hear them. Very -likely some of the fellows will put questions that I cannot answer, and -I don't believe I shall be able to get over all the objections that will -be made." - -"I should like to know what the three corners of the boat-house that are -over the water are to rest upon," said Will Orwell, when a system of -conducting the discussion had been arranged. - -"The bottom of the lake is flat rock like the shore. As the water is -only from four to four and a half feet deep where the corners come, it -will be easy enough to set stone posts on the bottom, not only at the -corners, but in as many places as may be necessary," replied the -architect. - -"Such posts would weigh at least a ton apiece, and I should like to know -how we are to handle them," added Will Orwell. "One corner is over sixty -feet from the shore, and we have nothing to stand on." - -This was just the kind of question the principal liked to have come -before the boys, for it assisted in developing their ingenuity, their -ability to devise expedients for overcoming difficulties. - -"I could mention several ways of doing it," replied Bolly, with a -confident smile; "but I will name only the one I thought to be the best -for our case. We are to build a caisson, or box, sixty by twelve for the -wharf, if my plan is adopted. I propose to build this box first, and use -it as a sort of scow or stage in the erection of the boat-house. We need -not make the sides more than four feet high at first. We can put some -timbers across it, on which a derrick can be placed." - -"Excellent!" exclaimed the fat civil engineer. - -"But how will you get the stone posts from the quarry to the derrick," -continued Will. "We have no vessel in which they can be carried." - -"With the timbers to be used in raising the wharf to the required -height, we can make a raft on which two or three of the posts can be -floated at a time. It can be towed by the Sylph," answered Bolly, who -had evidently been over all these details. - -"But you can't set these posts under water. If they don't happen to -stand plumb, I don't see how you can help yourself," suggested Luke -Bennington. - -"But we can help ourselves, even if we have to ask the principal to send -to Boston or New York for a submarine diver who knows how to lay stone," -said Bolly. "I should be willing to take the job of setting the posts -plumb without any outside assistance except the stone-cutters at the -quarry. The bottom is nearly level, and we can obtain the exact pitch by -measuring. We can cut a flat rock to fit the bottom." - -"There is still another way," interposed Mr. Bridges. - -"I have thought of a coffer-dam," added Bolly, glancing at the visitor. - -"Exactly so; that is what I was thinking about," laughed the civil -engineer. - -"What's a coffer-dam?" demanded Dave Winslow. - -"There are several ways to make one," answered Bolly. "We could make an -island by filling in earth: then dig out a hole in it the same as we -should for a foundation on shore. Another way is to sink a wooden or -iron caisson, or box, to the bottom, where it would have to be puddled -with clay. Then it would be necessary to pump out the water. When this -is done we should have a chance to set the posts just as we should do it -on shore." - -"It seems to me you don't hit on the easiest and simplest way of doing -the job," interposed Mr. Brookbine. "How high will the posts of the -boat-house be, Bolly?" - -"About thirty feet." - -"Very well; rest the posts on the bottom of the pond, where they will -have a good foundation," added the master carpenter. "If you take a -stick of timber and set it up endways in deep water, one half of it will -be below the surface; and in four feet of depth nearly the whole weight -of the stick would rest on the bottom. It seems to me this is the -simplest way to do it!" - -The boys looked at Bolly, and their expression seemed to say, "We have -got you now!" But the amateur architect smiled as confidently as ever. - -"That plan would do very well in Florida or the West Indies," he -replied; whereat the corpulent civil engineer laughed out loud. - -"Why not in Vermont?" demanded the carpenter, wondering what Mr. Bridges -was laughing at. - -"We sometimes have the thermometer twenty degrees below zero, and under -the new boat-house the water may freeze to the bottom. When the ice -expands, it will be likely to give three corners of the boat-house a -lift which the fourth will not get on the solid rock shore. If all the -posts were in the water it would be better." - -Mr. Brookbine laughed with the civil engineer then, and admitted that he -had not thought of the ice. - -"But I think it would cost more to stand the posts, thirty feet high, on -the ends in the water than it would to build the caissons for -coffer-dams," added Mr. Bridges. "I suppose you will raise the building -in sections, but you must have something to hold on to in the water, and -sink the ends of the posts to the bottom." - -"Now, Millweed, you have mentioned several ways of managing the posts in -the water, I wish to ask which of these ways you think is the best one," -said Captain Gildrock. - -"The stone posts," replied Bolly promptly. "With only about four feet of -water I think there will be no difficulty in chinking them up at the -bottom." - -For an hour longer the boys continued to ask questions, and Bolly was -not caught in anything, though it is probable that the architect or -civil engineer could easily have tripped him up if they had chosen to do -so. But the principal announced the suspension of the school for the -rest of the forenoon, in order to convey the visitors to Whitehall in -the steamer. - -Captain Gildrock took up the two fifty-dollar bills he had laid upon the -desk, and turned to the successful competitor, who had been requested to -remain on the platform. - -"As I said in the beginning, I cannot allow the money obtained for the -plans to be fooled away, for one of the most important lessons an -American boy ought to learn is how to take care of and use money, as -well as how to earn it. What do you intend to do with the hundred -dollars, Millweed?" asked the principal. - -"I shall give it to my father," replied Bolly without any hesitation. - -"That is an excellent use to make of it, and I hand it over to you -without asking any more questions," added the principal, suiting the -action to the words. - -A round of applause saluted Bolly again. He had gone up a hundred -degrees in the estimation of his companions, who had been unable to -corner him with their questions. The order was given for the boys to put -on their steamer uniform, and take their stations on board of the Sylph. -Bates had already got up steam, and a plentiful supply of provisions had -been put on board. In half an hour the steam yacht departed, and -everything on board of her went along in as good order as though she had -been a regular packet on the lake. The passengers were to dine on board, -and cooks and stewards went to work in their departments at once. - -The excursion was a very pleasant one, and the guests spent most of the -time on the way up in talking with the boys in regard to what they had -learned at the school. They were delighted with the institution, and Mr. -Bridges declared that the States could not do better than to establish -such schools in place of some of those in which Greek and Latin were the -principal branches taught. - -Mr. Plint pointed out to the principal a few details in which he thought -Bolly's plan could be improved, and after making these alterations he -intended to erect the building at once. - -"But you do not expect those boys to do all the work?" suggested Mr. -Ritchie. - -"I expect them to do nearly the whole of it. When I return I shall set -the quarrymen to getting out the stone posts. I shall go to Burlington -at once, for Brookbine is arranging the plan for framing the building, -and will give me a list of the lumber needed, and purchase it. The boys -will tow it down in rafts, though I shall employ a number of laborers, -for I don't wish to let the boys injure themselves." - -"But it will take a long time to put up and finish the building," added -Mr. Bridges. - -"I don't expect to have it completed until next spring. We shall finish -the outside by December, and make a winter's job of the inside work." - -At Whitehall the visitors, except Mr. Ritchie, took their leave of the -boys, and went on shore, promising to come again the next season. The -students gave them three cheers as they landed, and then the Sylph began -her homeward trip. As she passed Sandy Beach Cove, the barges of the -Chesterfields were seen pulling out from the shore. It was soon evident -that they wished to speak with those on board of the steamer. Oscar -Chester, the second pilot, at the request of the principal, rang to stop -her, and the Dasher came up to the forward gangway. - -"I should like to speak to the coxswains of the barges," said Mad -Twinker, who appeared to be the commodore of the fleet. - -"I am the coxswain of the Gildrock," replied Matt Randolph, at a nod -from the principal. - -"We have two boats like yours, and we have been learning to row," said -Mad Twinker. "We think we can pull pretty well now, though there is room -for improvement, we grant. We desire to extend to you a friendly -invitation to row with us for a suitable prize." - -"Young man," interposed Captain Gildrock, "I cannot allow the Beech -Hill students to row with you at present." - -"Why not, sir?" asked Mad Twinker, apparently astonished at this -interference. - -"Although they are likely to become mechanics, most of them, I wish them -to be gentlemen at the same time, and I am rather careful with whom I -allow them to associate." - -"But we claim to be gentlemen, sir," exclaimed Mad, indignantly. - -"The claim is not admitted. When our boys first saw you the other day -you called them 'members of the Tinkers' Institute,' 'chip-makers,' -'greasers,' and many other offensive epithets. You stole their clothes -while they were in the water, and since that you attempted with your -associates, the Topovers, to steal our boats. When you have learned to -be true gentlemen, I will withdraw all objection. Go ahead, pilot!" - -The commodore of the barge fleet wanted to discuss the matter, but the -Sylph steamed away before he had a chance to get in a word. Ben Ludlow -thought they were even with the Chesterfields then, and in half an hour -the boys were looking over the site of the boat-house and wharf. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV. - -THE NEW CAPTAIN OF THE SYLPH. - - -Mr. Brookbine had been hard at work over the plan of the building in -getting the amount of timber required for the frame. Captain Gildrock -had assured him that no material change would be made in the drawing of -Bolly. They might alter the arrangement of the store-rooms, and use a -portion of the immense vestibule on the second floor for a library, or -committee-room. - -Bolly had suggested a gallery or balcony on the water side of the second -story, which might be added, but none of these changes would affect the -frame. When the captain had returned from Whitehall the master carpenter -gave him the list of timber required for the frame. - -The granite quarry in the rear of Beech Hill was owned by the -shipmaster, and about all the building-stone used in Genverres was taken -from it. The owner did not care to be bothered with it, and a quarryman -managed it, paying so much a cubic foot for all the stone taken out of -it. - -Thirteen stone posts would be required for the water-foundations of the -boat-house, and Captain Gildrock rode to the quarryman's house at once -to order them. Early the next morning the principal went to Burlington, -and ordered the lumber. Before breakfast, Bolly, assisted by the other -students, staked out the building. The approximate positions of the -foundation posts were indicated by mooring sticks with stones in the -bay. But the lessons went on as usual, and the boating and swimming -exercises were not interrupted. - -The boys were full of enthusiasm, and were impatient for the actual work -of the house to begin. The more they considered the plan which had been -adopted the better they liked it. All the plans which had been offered -for the prizes were returned to the makers of them; but quite a number -of the competitors destroyed them as soon as they got hold of them, and -no one but themselves and the committee ever knew what blunders they had -made. Yet a few of them were not ashamed to exhibit their work. - -Not a single one of them had selected the location chosen by Bolly -Millweed. Some of them had bridged the lake, and put the boat-house over -in the grove, but most of them had placed it near the old wharf. One -admitted that he had made the structure two hundred feet long, with -dressing-rooms ten feet square. - -For a week the principal said nothing about the new building, except -that he had ordered the lumber. The boys knew that the quarryman was at -work with all his force on the foundations, and they were nearly ready. -At the close of the school on Friday, about a week after the adoption of -the plans, the principal took his place on the platform. - -"To-morrow will be our usual day for a steamer trip, but I will change -the programme a little," said he. "We shall go to Burlington and tow the -wharf-caisson, or box, up to the quarry. I concluded to have this affair -constructed by a bridge-builder at Burlington, for it was rather too -heavy a job for boys to manage." - -The boys manifested their satisfaction at the announcement by applause. -It would be fun to tow the caisson up the lake, and get it through the -creek, to the quarry. But why was it going to the quarry? - -"We shall load the thirteen stone posts upon it, and bring them down all -at once," replied the principal in answer to this question. "It is -built of tun timber, and the sticks needed to raise it to the proper -height as a wharf will be placed inside of it." - -"Tun timber; what is that?" asked Ben Ludlow. - -"It is a name given to timber a foot square or more." - -"How about the slant for the bottom?" asked Bolly, with some anxiety on -his face, for he was afraid his idea in its construction had not been -carried out. - -"I had it built in accordance with the sketch you gave me. If you look -at the chart, boys," continued Captain Gildrock, pointing to it on the -wall, "you will see that the water suddenly shoals six feet at the -distance of forty feet from Chowder Point. In other words there is a -step of that height in the rock, such a one as you may see just beyond -the dormitory in the side of Beech Hill. Bolly has located the wharf -outside of this step, where he found ten feet of water." - -"But the bottom slants off six inches in twelve feet," added Bolly. - -"And I had the bottom of the caisson built to fit this slant," continued -the principal. - -"That's all I wanted to know," said Bolly, satisfied that his intention -had been carried out. - -School was dismissed, but after dinner the usual work in the shop was -done. The boys were making as many tool-boxes as there were students, -for they would be needed while they were at work on the boat-house. An -hour earlier than usual on her Saturday trips the Sylph started for -Burlington, for it might take all day to get the caisson up to the -quarry. But there was no change made in the organization of the ship's -company, and everything went on as usual. - -They found the caisson in the water just below the city, where it had -been built, and the boys gave three cheers when they saw it. Bolly was -an "idler;" that is, his watch was not on duty in the fire-room. He -leaped from the gangway as the steamer came alongside of the structure, -and inspected it with the greatest gravity and dignity. In answer to the -question of the principal he declared that the caisson was all right in -every respect. - -After the boys had examined the caisson, all hands were called and -assembled on the forward deck. The principal had a letter in his hand -which had been handed to him since the arrival of the Sylph. He informed -the students that he had intended to remain on board during the trip, -but some bank business of the greatest importance required him to -remain in the city till afternoon. He should return to Beech Hill on the -train, and expected to be there by the time the steamer reached the -river. - -The principal was the captain of the steamer, and he had always been on -board during the Saturday trips. He sometimes sent Dory Dornwood away in -her, with Mr. Jepson in charge of the engine, a gardener doing duty as -fireman, and Bates as deck hand; but she had never come out of the river -with her regular ship's company on board in the absence of the captain. -The students jumped to the conclusion that Dory would be made captain on -the present occasion. - -"The organization of the ship's company will remain just as it is," said -Captain Gildrock. "You have learned to obey your officers even if you -think you know more than they do; and this was a very valuable lesson to -learn." - -"It's Captain Dory Dornwood now, I suppose," suggested Life Windham, as -all hands glanced at the first pilot. - -"Not at all," replied the principal. "On sea steamers they don't have -pilots, for the captain navigates the vessel. The pilots on river and -lake steamers are a sort of independent officials. In our plan the -first pilot is the fourth in rank, and if the captain should be lost -overboard, he would not succeed to the command. The first officer is -next to the captain, and he takes charge of the steamer in the absence -of the captain." - -"Thad Glovering!" exclaimed half a dozen students in the same breath. - -"Glovering will be the captain in my absence, and you will respect and -obey him accordingly," added the principal. "Captain Glovering, you will -tow the caisson to the quarry, and I must leave at once." - -"Three cheers for Captain Glovering!" called Ben Ludlow; and they were -given. - -Captain Gildrock went on shore, and disappeared at once. Some of the -first-class students did not like it very well to have a second-class -fellow put in as captain over them; but they were too well disciplined -to find any fault. - -"Of course Dory will have to show him how to do it," said Bob Swanton. - -"The captain can ask the advice of anyone he likes, but he can do as he -pleases," added Corny Minkfield, rather smartly. - -But Thad did not ask anybody's advice just then. In spite of some -gentle sarcasm uttered by the older boys, the new captain soon showed -that he knew what he was about. The large hawser by which the caisson -was to be towed lay on the top of the timbers with which it was loaded, -the upper ones serving as a deck. It had been made fast to a huge pin in -the centre of one end, indicating that the box was to be towed by a -single line. - -There were also big cleats at the four corners of the structure, placed -there for the stays to the derrick. The new captain directed the second -officer to take two hawsers and make one fast to each of the corner -cleats. Will Orwell obeyed the order, and the other ends of the hawsers -were sent on board the Sylph. They were carefully secured to cleats in -the stern of the steamer. - -"Go ahead, if you please, pilot," said Thad, when all was ready. - -The propeller was put in motion, but it required a little time to start -the heavy tow. When it did start, it butted against the corner of the -wharf. The first-class students thought the time of the new captain's -defeat had come. - -"Stop her!" shouted Thad, as soon as he discovered the nature of the -difficulty. "Cast off the port tow-line, Mr. Orwell!" - -"Port line clear, sir," reported the second officer, now doing duty as -first. - -"Go ahead, Mr. Pilot!" - -Dory at the wheel rang the bell, and the propeller began to turn again. -As soon as he got steerage way, he headed the steamer away from the -shore. The starboard line was now doing all the work, and exercised all -its force on that side of the caisson. Of course it hauled the tow away -from the wharf. But the captain stopped her as soon as the box was clear -of the obstruction. The port line was made fast again, and care was -taken to see that both tow-ropes were of the same length. - -The first class were willing to admit that the getting under way had -been well managed, and they were magnanimous enough to give the new -captain the credit he deserved. The Sylph tugged away at her heavy -burden, and the log showed, when the steamer was off Rock Dunder, that -she was making about three knots. There was nothing more to be done with -the tow, though the rate of speed was soon increased to four knots. - -It was a monotonous trip, but everything was in the usual order on -board. Dinner was served at the proper time, and at three o' clock the -Sylph was approaching the mouth of the river. When she was within half -a mile of it the second pilot, who was on duty, reported that the barges -of the Chesterfields were coming out of the stream. - -"I am sorry for that," said Dory Dornwood, as he went into the -pilot-house to take a look at the approach of the boats. - -"So am I," replied Oscar Chester. "I wish you were in command instead of -Thad Glovering." - -"Thad will do very well," answered Dory. - -"Those fellows can't let us alone if they try. What's that? They have -passengers in the stern sheets." - -Dory took a spy glass from the brackets and glanced at the barges. - -"They have eight of the Topovers with them." - -"You will see most of that crowd on board the caisson before long," said -Oscar. "They will cut the tow-lines or cast them off if they can." - -At this moment Captain Glovering entered the pilot-house. - - - - -CHAPTER XXV. - -THE FIRST OFFICER AND PARTY IN BATTLE ARRAY. - - -The feeling which had grown up between the Beech Hill and the -Chesterfield students was not hatred, enmity, or even ill will. When -they first met near Sandy Beach neither party could have had anything -against the other. No traditional hatred had been handed down, for both -institutions were new. - -The Chesterfield Collegiate Institute was established only a year -before, and was intended to be a very high-toned establishment, judged -by the society standard. The boys were generally the sons of rich men or -merchants, with a standing in the world; and Colonel Buckmill catered -for this class. Everything about the school was genteel, and the boys -had been taught to "feel their oats." - -In accordance with their education they naturally looked down upon -farmers, mechanics, and small shopkeepers. They were gentlemen, and the -sons of gentlemen, the principal said, and he treated them as such. Out -of this feeling on the part of the students had come the bad conduct of -the Chesterfields at their first meeting with the Beech Hillers. They -expected, and probably received from the country people in their -immediate vicinity, a certain degree of deference, for the institute was -a good customer to all who had anything to sell. - -Doubtless the possession of the new boats had excited them to a degree -which made them somewhat reckless when they were away from the -influences that surrounded them at the school. But even in the offensive -epithets they had applied to the students from the other side of the -lake, they meant no evil. When they were treated with the contempt of -silence they felt like great men who had been neglected, and they wanted -to make themselves felt. - -But they had been beaten with their own weapons, and the desire to -humiliate their school-neighbors was increased. They wanted to get the -Beech Hillers into some sort of a scrape, to annoy them all they could, -and though the Topovers were not at all after their style, they were -glad to make friends with them for the time, in order to accomplish -their purpose. - -It looked as though the Chesterfields had come across the lake for the -purpose of doing mischief to their conquerors in the two former -contests. They could hardly have come to give the Topovers a pleasure -excursion in their elegant barges, and their presence in the boats made -it appear that they meant mischief. - -It must be acknowledged that the Beech Hill students generally enjoyed -these meetings with the enemy, as they regarded the Chesterfields, for -the contests with them were full of excitement and fun. But on the -present occasion they were too full of building, too much interested in -the enterprise of moving the timber from Burlington to the quarry, to -care for a battle with the young gentlemen from the other side. - -Most of the students wished that Dory Dornwood were in command of the -steamer, for he had twice proved that he was more than a match in skill -for the Chesterfields. As it was, Captain Thad Glovering was the -autocrat of the occasion. All hands must obey his orders, even if they -led to the most disastrous failure. Mr. Jepson was the only adult on -board; and in his present capacity of chief engineer of the steamer, he -was as much under the orders of the captain as any of the boys. He -simply minded his own business, and did his best to instruct his two -assistants in the structure and management of the engine, hoping the -time would soon come when he could be relieved from his somewhat -disagreeable position. - -Captain Glovering saw that the Chesterfields were making for the caisson -with all the speed of their boats. They would not attempt to meddle with -the steamer, but they could put the Topovers on the caisson, and the -first thing they would do would be to cast off the hawsers. They were -cutting across the shoal water, and would come out in time to intercept -the tow. - -"What do you think of it now, Dory?" asked Oscar Chester, in the -pilot-house. - -"Of course those fellows mean to pay off the old score if they can," -replied the first pilot. "I doubt if we are ever on good terms with the -Chesterfields, as I wish we could be." - -"I suppose they don't feel any better towards us after what the -principal said to them when they hailed the steamer, and wanted to get -up a race. They are the sons of the magnates of the land, and it was -rough for Captain Gildrock to tell them they were not gentlemen, and -that he would not allow us to associate with them for that reason," -added Oscar, chuckling, for all hands had enjoyed the snubbing which the -principal had given them. - -"My uncle told them the simple truth, though it was hard for them to -digest," replied Dory, as he glanced at the two barges. - -"Don't you think you ought to have a talk with Thad Glovering, Dory?" -asked Oscar, after he had watched the approaching barges for a moment. -"He don't seem to be doing anything, and in ten minutes more we shall -have to pick up the tow." - -"If Captain Glovering asks my advice, I shall give it to him; but not -without. I have no more right to meddle with his business than any other -fellow," replied Dory, very decidedly. "If I were in his place I should -not want every fellow putting his finger in my pie. He is responsible -for the steamer and the tow; and in my opinion Thad knows what he is -about." - -Captain Glovering was on the hurricane deck, watching the approach of -the boats. He did not seem to be at all nervous or uneasy in regard to -the situation. The Sylph was just beginning to round in so as to strike -the channel. On the other side of it the water was only from one to -three feet deep, and the caisson would make a wide sweep in coming -about. - -"If the tow should get adrift here it would ground in shoal water," said -Dory, as he glanced again at the approaching barges. - -"Captain Glovering has just called Will Orwell, and he means to do -something. It is time something was done," replied Oscar. - -The acting first officer had come on the hurricane deck, and the captain -was apparently giving him some orders. Will hastened to the forward deck -again. All hands were called; and this summons included all who were not -actually on duty in the engine and firerooms or the pilot-house, for the -work of the cooks and stewards was finished for that day. - -Will selected eight of them and sent them to the stern of the steamer. -It was evident that something was to be done, and the students wondered -what it was. The captain was not asleep, and it was clear that he was -conscious of the perils of the tow. Thad had observed with admiration -the conduct of Dory in the former engagements with the Chesterfields and -Topovers, and he had strictly obeyed every order without asking a -question. He was glad of the present opportunity to distinguish himself, -and he hoped to give a good account of himself. - -"Mr. Pilot, I wish you would hug the port side of the channel, and get -the tow as far as possible from the shoal water," said Captain -Glovering, entering the pilot-house as soon as he had given his orders -to the first officer. "I wish to stop her as soon as possible." - -"I have been doing that, Captain Glovering," replied Dory. "It will be -safe to stop her as soon as you give the order." - -"Thank you," added the captain, with more politeness than is usual on -board of vessels. - -Captain Glovering hastened to the stern of the hurricane deck where he -could see the tow. Will and his eight hands were on the rail ready to do -the duty intrusted to them. The captain called to the pilot to stop her. -The order was promptly obeyed, but the headway of the Sylph kept her at -the same relative distance from the caisson. Then a few strokes back -were called for. The first officer had put fenders over the stern; but -the captain did not allow the tow to come in contact with the steamer. - -As soon as the caisson was near enough, Will and his party leaped on -board of it. The captain had given the order to go ahead before they did -so. The steamer straightened the tow-lines, and in a few moments -everything was moving on as before. The wind was light from the -northwest, and Dory hugged the weather side of the channel; but the -Sylph was still half a mile from the nearest point of land at the -entrance of the river. - -"The captain has done something, but I haven't the least idea what it -is," said Oscar, as the tow-lines began to stretch. - -"Neither have I, for I have not even looked behind me to see what he was -about," replied the first pilot, who never neglected his own duty to -attend to other people's business. - -"He has put the first officer and eight of the fellows on board of the -caisson," added Oscar. "But there are thirty-five fellows in the barges, -and the captain don't expect to beat them off with only nine of ours. I -wonder he did not send the whole crowd except what are needed to work -the steamer." - -"Don't be in a hurry to criticise, Oscar," laughed Dory, without even -looking out at the rear windows of the pilot-house to see what the -captain was about. - -"Does Thad Glovering expect nine of our fellows to whip four times -their number?" demanded the second pilot, who was evidently beginning to -be somewhat excited. "We are not going more than three knots now, and -the Chesterfields can have it all their own way. Our fellows can't do -anything on the caisson when the barges pour in twenty or thirty fellows -upon them; and the Topovers are fighting men." - -"Keep cool, Oscar," said Dory, smiling. - -"Do you know what the captain's plan is, Dory?" asked the second pilot -nervously. - -"I do not; I have not the first idea in regard to it," answered Dory. -"But I think you had better go astern where you can see what is going -on. If there is going to be a fight Captain Glovering will certainly -want you; and you may have a chance to tackle Tom Topover." - -"I should like the chance," said Oscar, as he left the pilot-house. - -By this time the barges were within a few rods of the caisson. One was -bearing down upon the stern, and the other upon the starboard side of -it. Mad Twinker, who was leading in the Dasher, was evidently the -commodore of the squadron, for he gave orders to Jeff Monroe in the -Racer. He clearly had a plan, and intended to capture the caisson, or -at least to set it adrift. - -In the bow of the commodore's barge was Tom Topover and Nim Splugger, -ready to leap on board of the expected prize. In the Racer, Kidd -Digfield and Pell Sankland occupied the corresponding positions. The -other Topovers were seated in the rear of their leaders, and were to -follow them in the boarding exploit. - -When the barges were within fifty feet of the caisson the captain's plan -was suddenly developed. On the top of the timber were a dozen long -pike-poles, which Captain Gildrock had ordered at Burlington. Each one -was armed with a sharp spike in one end. They were to be used in raising -the building, and in managing the caisson in the narrow creek. - -At the word from Will Orwell, each of the nine students picked up a -pike, and poised it in the direction of the approaching barges. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVI. - -THE RESULT OF THE BATTLE ON THE CAISSON. - - -Commodore Mad Twinker could not help seeing the preparations on board of -the caisson for the reception of his party. He saw the pike-poles, but -he could not know that the ends were armed with spikes. Doubtless he -supposed the weapons were simply to be used in shoving the barges away -from the tow. - -Oscar Chester saw at a glance, when the party on the caisson picked up -the pikes, that the captain of the Sylph was likely to make bad work -with the boats of the enemy. He walked forward to the pilot-house and -reported to Dory the state of things, for the first pilot had not yet -looked astern. - -"Will Orwell's party can stave their boats all to pieces in less than -two minutes," added Oscar, somewhat excited still. - -"I hope he will not have occasion to do that," added Dory. "The -Chesterfields can see for themselves that the iron points will go -through the cedar planking as if it were nothing but paper." - -"I don't think they know that the poles are armed with spikes." - -"They can see what they are in season to back out," added Dory, as Oscar -returned to the stern of the steamer to watch the proceedings, and take -a part in them, if required. - -"Keep off! keep off!" shouted Will Orwell, as the Dasher approached the -caisson. - -Instead of heeding this warning, the Chesterfields gave three cheers, as -though the victory were already won, and they had possession of the -caisson. The commodore quickened the movements of his oarsmen, and the -Topovers in the bows of the boat were all ready to spring upon the -prize. - -"Keep off, or we will stave your boats all to pieces!" shouted the first -officer, louder and more vigorously than before. - -A yell of derision greeted him, and the barges still advanced to the -destruction that awaited them. - -"These poles have an iron spike in the end, and they will go through -your boats every time! Keep off, or your boats will be spoiled!" shouted -Will Orwell; and certainly the Chesterfields could not complain that -they had not had sufficient warning. - -The first officer was very reluctant to do any damage if the enemy could -be repulsed in any other way. He placed himself at the point where the -Dasher was likely to come in contact with the caisson, and held up his -pike-pole so that the reckless assailants could see what it was. - -"Hold on!" shouted Mad Twinker, when his craft came within a short -distance of the intended prize. "Drop oars!" - -Without the action that followed these orders they would not have been -intelligible to those on the tow. It was evident that the Chesterfields -did not follow any known system, but had invented their own commands. -The first order meant for the crew to cease rowing, and the second to -hold water. These were followed by an order to back her. Will hoped that -the assailants had discovered the wicked nature of the pikes, and were -intending to save their boats; but it was soon evident that the speed of -the barges had been checked so as not to stave the boats in the -collision. - -"All ready forward there!" shouted the coxswain of the Dasher. "Tumble -them overboard if they don't get out of your way." - -"Let her went!" screamed Tom Topover, as he stepped on the bow rails of -the boat, where he balanced himself so that he could leap readily upon -the caisson. - -The order of the commodore indicated no sign of relenting, and Will -Orwell realized that all his warning and explanations had done no good -in opening the eyes of the Chesterfields and their allies. The Dasher -was coming slowly up to the raft, for her speed had not been fully -checked. When it was within ten feet of the point where he stood, the -first officer saw that the time for action had come. With a -well-directed lunge with his pike-pole, he drove the end of it entirely -through the bow planking of the barge, about on the water line. - -The thin boards snapped and splintered, and the pikeman had some -difficulty in withdrawing his weapon from the wound he had made. The -force of the blow had overcome what little momentum the barge had, and -brought her to a standstill. Four more pikes were ready to complete the -work of destruction the instant the first officer gave the order. - -"There is a hole stove in the bow!" yelled the bowman of the barge. - -"Shove her ahead again!" added Tom Topover, mad with excitement. - -"Row again!" shouted Mad Twinker to his crew; and this order made it -clear that he did not intend to retire from the contest. - -"Punch her, Lew!" said Will, as the barge began to advance again. "Hit -her a little lower than I did." - -Lew Shoreham was a stout fellow, and he rammed his pike through the -other side of the bow, just below the water line. The wound he made was -a more ragged one than the first, and the water poured into the barge -like a young cataract. But Mad promptly checked the movement of the boat -so as to strike the tow gently, for the safety of his own craft. - -The stem of the barge had come within three feet of the caisson, and Tom -Topover made a flying leap. He was followed by two others; but the last -one fell a little short of the mark, and went into the water, though he -caught hold of the tow with his hands. - -[Illustration: "'Punch her again,' added Will; and, as he did not -indicate who was to act, all four of his party obeyed the order."--Page -263.] - -"Punch her again!" added Will; and as he did not indicate who was to -act, all four of his party obeyed the order, the other four being at the -stern to receive the assailants of the other boat, which had not yet -come within punching distance of the caisson. - -The effect of all these blows was to riddle the bows of the Dasher, and -crowd her away from the tow. As the latter was now making at least three -miles an hour, the shattered barge fell astern of her prey. The water -was pouring in at the bow of the boat through half a dozen ragged holes, -and the craft was settling rapidly. - -"We are sinking!" cried one of the Chesterfields. - -Mad Twinker seemed to realize the situation by this time, and all his -warlike energy evaporated. He called the remaining Topovers from the -bow, and several of his crew from the forward thwarts. As the boat had -been well down by the head on account of the weight of the five boarders -who had been stationed there, the order of the coxswain relieved the -boat from her peril immediately. But she seemed to be half full of -water. - -Three of the Topovers had secured a footing on the caisson. All of them -struck on their faces, and Will could easily have rolled them into the -water; but no attention was given to them, and they crawled out from -under the pikes of the victorious defenders of the craft. They made -their way to the forward end of the tow; but the disaster to the Dasher -disturbed their calculations, and suddenly cooled their warlike -enthusiasm. - -"That boat has had enough of it for to-day," said Will Orwell, as he -glanced at the Racer approaching at the stern of the caisson. - -"She can't do anything more if she tries," replied Lew Shoreham. "We can -make short work of the other barge." - -But Jeff Monroe, the coxswain of the Racer, was not blind. He had been -watching the onslaught of the Dasher, and had seen her bow riddled by -the pikes of the defenders of the caisson. He could see her settled down -in the water almost to her gunwale. Four pikes were poised ready to -inflict the same chastisement upon his own craft, and against such -weapons he was powerless to contend. He gave the order to hold water -when the Racer was within ten feet of the caisson, and then to back her. - -"He has concluded not to take his punching," said Will Orwell, who had -reinforced the stern with his party. - -"He would be a fool if he did not back out, after what he has seen," -added Lew Shoreham. "There won't be any more music to-day." - -"I think not; and the band may put up their instruments," continued the -first officer, as he dropped his pike-pole on the timbers. "Halloo, -there! What are you about?" - -This sudden change of tone on the part of the officer was caused by the -movements of the Topovers on the tow. Tom had appeared to be somewhat -bewildered by the failure of the expedition of the Chesterfields, and -stood quietly on the forward end until the Racer backed out and pulled -for her battered consort. While Will and his companions were watching -the movements of the second barge, Tom had made a sudden dive at the -cleat on the starboard side, and Nim Splugger rushed to the port one. - -Tom had succeeded in casting the tow line on his side loose, though one -fold of the rope still lay under the cleat. Nim had not yet been able to -loosen the other, the securing of which had been finished with a -half-hitch. Will and his force rushed forward to prevent the tow-lines -from dragging overboard. Lew Shoreham seized Nim Splugger by the collar -of his coat while he was still at work on the rope. - -"What are you goin' to do about it?" demanded Tom Topover, springing to -his feet, and putting himself into a fighting attitude. "I can lick the -whole of you." - -Will Orwell was no match for such a fellow as the leader of the -Topovers, but he rushed upon him, and got a heavy blow in the face. The -second officer was not a fighting man, and, instead of hitting back with -his fist, he threw himself upon his antagonist. Phil Gawner went behind -him, and clasped his arms around the neck of the chief marauder, while -Dick Short went for the legs of the bully. Two others got hold where -they could, and all of them succeeded in crowding Tom down upon the -timbers. - -Lew Shoreham had got his victim under him, and he was strong enough to -hold him there. The third Topover, who had been pressing the water out -of his wet clothes, attempted to help Nim, but three of the steamer's -party went for him. - -"That's no way to fight," puffed Tom Topover, as he lay wriggling under -the four deck hands. "Let me up, and I'll wallop the whole of you." - -"We don't want to be walloped, and you had better stay where you are. -Don't let him up, fellows." - -They did not, and Will hastened to secure the hawser, which was running -overboard. At this moment the steamer stopped, for Captain Glovering -had closely observed all that happened on the caisson. The starboard -quarter-boat of the Sylph was lowered into the water. Will was thinking -what he should do with his prisoners, when a boat from the steamer came -alongside. Oscar Chester was in charge of it, with four of the crew at -the oars. - -As the boat came alongside, Oscar threw a handful of small line on the -timbers, saying it was the order of the captain that the arms of the -prisoners should be bound behind them. The second pilot sprang on board, -and was happy to take a hand in the ceremony, as he called it, though it -would have pleased him better to stand up alone with the chief ruffian. - -As the three Topovers were held down, there was no difficulty in -executing the order of the captain. Tom swore, and was furious in his -wrath. Nim Splugger struggled to escape, but all of them were secured. - -"I am directed by the captain to land them on the point," said Oscar, -when the operation was completed. - -Tom protested. He should have to walk two miles; but no time was wasted -on him, and he was put on shore. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVII. - -THE INTERVIEW BETWEEN THE TWO PRINCIPALS. - - -As the Sylph and the tow had been in motion all the time during the -battle on the caisson, they were within a few rods of the point. Tom -Topover wanted Oscar Chester to put him on board of the Racer, but the -request was denied. The second pilot also refused to unbind him and his -companions when he landed them, for he would incur no risk. - -The tow-lines had been adjusted, and the steamer was again making her -way up the river when the boat returned. Tom used a great deal of bad -language when he found himself standing on the point with his arms tied -behind him and Oscar wanted to thrash him, as he was confident he could, -but he obeyed his orders to the letter. - -The two barges were half a mile from the point. They had come together, -and the crew of the Dasher were baling her out. By keeping the crew well -astern, the ragged holes in the bow were raised above the water line. -The Topovers who had been on board of her were transferred to the Racer. -The Chesterfields were a sorry crowd, and as they had no further use for -their allies, the Racer conveyed them to the point. - -Of course Tom's bonds were removed then, and as the Racer started for -the other side of the lake the Topovers took up the line of march for -Genverres. When the Sylph reached the first bend in the river, the -Dasher, pulling only half her oars, had begun her voyage across the -lake. The Racer kept close to her, but she seemed to get along very -well, though very slowly. - -"I don't believe those fellows will feel like coming over here again -very soon," said Oscar in the pilot-house. - -"I don't know about that," replied Dory Dornwood. "This is the third -time they have got the worst of it; but I have no idea that they will -ever be satisfied until they get even with us." - -"That is just what I think," added Captain Glovering, who was seated in -the pilot-house. "But I don't believe they will want to attack us on the -water again." - -"If we hadn't had those pike-poles we could not have done a thing, and -it was only an accident that they happened to be on the caisson," -continued Oscar. - -"I don't think so; we should have found some other way to meet them," -answered Captain Glovering. "When they have had as much experience on -the lake as we have, they may be able to do something." - -"But the Topovers are madder than the Chesterfields, and they are our -neighbors," suggested Oscar. "I believe we shall hear from them again -soon. Tom swore he would fix us yet, and if he ever caught me alone he -would pound me till I couldn't see out of my eyes. I only hope he will -meet me alone." - -"Let him alone; don't get into any quarrel with him," said Dory, in his -quiet way. - -"I shall not seek any quarrel with him, and I will do the best I can to -avoid a fight; but if I get into one in a natural way, I shall try to be -a muscular Christian." - -"The Topovers are more likely to steal our boats in the night, to turn -the Goldwing adrift, or something of that sort, than to make an open -attack upon us," argued the captain. - -"My uncle would prosecute them if it were not for making their parents -pay their fines," said the first pilot. - -When the Sylph reached the creek, the real difficulty of the trip -began. The first officer and his party were still on the caisson; but -the captain put a dozen more of the ship's company on board of it. They -were to use the pikes to crowd the tow away from the shore and the shoal -water when it could not be done by means of the double tow lines. - -Oscar, who as second pilot had made a careful study of the depth of -water in the creek as well as the lakes, was sent on board; and the -special charge of the tow-lines was given to him. Slacking one or the -other of these proved to be sufficient until the caisson reached the -V-point. In spite of the tow-lines the tow dragged on the bottom, and a -good deal of vigorous work had to be done with the pike-poles. - -The passage through Beech Hill Lake was observed by the instructors, and -all the servants from the house and garden, until the steamer went into -the creek above. Some hard work had to be done with the pike-poles -before the caisson was moored at the stone wharf, but before supper time -the Sylph was at her wharf. - -Captain Gildrock had been detained in Burlington by the affairs of the -bank until the last train; but he arrived early in the evening. Captain -Glovering reported to him at once, giving a full account of the -encounter with the Chesterfields and Topovers. The principal was sorry -to hear this story of contention with the students from the other side -and the marauders of his own side. He approved the action of Captain -Glovering, even to the staving of the boat, for it was done in defence -of the property entrusted to his care, as well as in protecting the -persons of the ship's company. If he intended to do anything about it, -he kept his own counsel. - -Unlike the commanding officer of the Beech Hillers, Commodore Twinker -did not report his proceedings to the principal of his school. On the -contrary, he tried to conceal them, and the shattered Dasher was rowed -to the boat-builder in Westport for repairs. Her crew kept her under the -high bank of the lake when they passed the institute buildings. - -But it so happened that the principal had been over to Burlington on a -steamer, and saw the Dasher when she came into Westport. He inquired -into the matter, and the students told a story to suit themselves; but -the main feature of the narrative was that they had been grossly -insulted by both the principal and the "Tinkers" of the Beech Hill -School. The Chesterfields had been told by Captain Gildrock that they -were not gentlemen, and were not fit to associate with his pupils. The -crew of the Winooski had treated them with contempt, and run into their -boat. - -Colonel Buckmill was indignant, and on Monday he went over to Beech -Hill. He stated his business in a gentlemanly manner, dwelling mainly on -the charge of the captain that the Chesterfields were not fit company -for the Beech Hill students. Captain Gildrock admitted that he had said -so, and still held to that opinion. He was as gentlemanly as his -visitor, but his views were very decided. He went over the three -encounters with the Chesterfields and their allies, and sent for Dory -Dornwood to explain the first meeting of the crews of the barges. - -Colonel Buckmill "got a flea in his ear," but his own views of "greasy -mechanics" were not very different from those of his pupils. Though he -did not say so in so many words, he thought the students of the -Chesterfield Collegiate Institution were entitled to a good deal of -deference from boys "picked up in the streets." The captain did not see -it in this light, and the two principals did not get ahead any better -than their pupils. - -"While my boys behave themselves like gentlemen, I expect them to be -treated as such," replied Captain Gildrock. "I expect them to defend -themselves if attacked; but if they go out of their way to invite an -attack, I will take the boats away from them, and not allow them to -leave the school grounds until they learn better. Your students have -been the aggressors in every instance." - -"Silence is sometimes more insulting than speech, than even offensive -speech," replied the colonel proudly. - -"Your views differ very essentially from mine, Colonel Buckmill, and it -is hardly worth while to attempt to reconcile them," continued Captain -Gildrock. "You are on one side of the lake and I am on the other, and -there is not the least occasion for any collision between us, or between -our students. If your boys will let mine alone, I will agree to keep the -peace." - -"But I expect my young gentlemen to be treated with respect, even on the -lake," insisted the colonel. - -"When one of our barges met your boats, our boys tossed oars, which is -the highest token of respect in a boat; but your students did not even -know what it meant, and greeted ours with offensive epithets. But not a -word in retaliation came from the mouth of a Beech Hill student. After -that our boys very carefully avoided yours. The attack last Saturday was -entirely unprovoked." - -"But it grew out of former occurrences," reasoned Colonel Buckmill. - -"I have explained the nature of the first meeting. I have my remedy in -the courts if these outrages are repeated," added Captain Gildrock. - -"In the courts!" exclaimed the visitor, rising to his feet in -astonishment and indignation. "Do I understand you that you intend to -prosecute my young gentlemen?" - -"If the principal of their school justifies them in their conduct and -declines to control them, I shall certainly protect my boys from insult -and assault in the best way I can," answered the captain decidedly. - -"These affairs are nothing but the frolics of young gentlemen, and it -would be outrageous to take them into the courts," added the colonel, -more moderately. "Your students have nearly ruined one of our boats, -and I could make a just claim for damages." - -"I hope you will make it," said the captain, laughing. - -"I do not desire to settle such frolics in that way." - -"I think nothing more need be said, Colonel Buckmill. Your boys have a -perfect right to navigate these waters. My boys have thus far proved -that they are able to take care of themselves; but I dislike these -collisions. I only ask you to do what I will do myself; my boys shall -not meddle with yours; and the least you can do is to require yours not -to meddle with mine. I should be glad to establish friendly relations -between the students of the two schools--" - -"None of my young men are tinkers," interposed the colonel with a sneer. - -"But they have formed an alliance with the Topovers, the scallawags of -Genverres. No matter about that. I see that friendly relations between -the schools are impossible, and we can only agree to disagree. I shall -be sorry to seek my remedy in the courts. Therefore I hope you will -control your boys." - -"I expected some allowance would be made for the irregularities of -young gentlemen, all of whom come from the best families in the States," -said Colonel Buckmill, rising to take his leave. "I was mistaken, and I -will do the best I can to prevent any further collision." - -"That is all I can possibly ask; and if you do that, I shall hope that -friendly relations--not socially, but on the lake as boatmen--may yet be -established between our students, though some of mine may have the oil -of the turning-lathe upon their skirts." - -Colonel Buckmill departed no better satisfied than when he came. As a -matter of fact, he had little expectation of being able to control his -young gentlemen while they were on their excursions upon the lake. He -was not a disciplinarian, and he had little skill in managing boys. The -interview between the two principals hardly promised anything hopeful or -peaceful in the future. - -During the week the Sylph towed up to Beech Hill several rafts of -lumber, and a week after the arrival of the caisson Mr. Brookbine was -ready to begin the framing of the boat-house. - - - - -CHAPTER XXVIII. - -SOMETHING ABOUT FRAMING THE BOAT-HOUSE. - - -While the work of framing the boat-house was in progress, the lessons in -the shops were suspended, but the forenoon exercises of the school were -continued as usual. The new tools had arrived, and had been distributed. -The place chosen for framing the building was a level piece of ground -between the shops and the dormitory. - -On this spot the timber had been landed and piled up by laborers. -Instead of assembling in the shop after dinner, the students were -required to be on this ground with their boxes of tools. Mr. Brookbine -was the central figure of the picture on this occasion, and, as usual, -the boys were full of enthusiasm, for they were to make a beginning on a -new piece of work. They gathered around the master carpenter, each -standing by his box. - -"The difficulty in our way, boys, is that you insist upon going too -fast," Mr. Brookbine began. "Captain Gildrock wants it understood that -our business now is not so much to frame a building as to learn how to -frame one. I am willing to answer questions, but I want you to stick to -the text, and not talk about things a thousand miles from it. - -"This boat-house is to be ninety-six feet long and thirty-two feet wide, -not including the lean-tos for the dressing-rooms and small docks. We -will divide the length into six parts, and the width into two parts. -This will make twelve squares of sixteen feet each, or two hundred and -fifty-six square feet. Every corner of these twelve squares must be -supported by a foundation." - -"That will make forty-eight posts, and only thirteen have been ordered," -said Life Windham. "I don't see how thirteen posts can support -forty-eight corners." - -"Perhaps if you had waited before you said anything, you would have -seen. Each of the inside posts, in the middle of the platform between -the docks, will support four corners. One post may support one, two, or -four corners. Of course no posts are required for those parts which are -over the shore. We shall simply put blocks or short pieces of timber -under them, and lay stone wall under the sills." - -"But what are the sills?" asked Tom Ridley. - -"I will explain the details as soon as you get the general idea of the -frame," replied the instructor. "As I have said, the space to be -enclosed by the frame is divided into six sections of the whole length. -Each of these sections contains two of the squares I have described. -Now, Ludlow, give me the size of the ground of each section." - -"Thirty-two by sixteen," replied the student indicated. - -"Right; and the boat-house will be the same as six buildings of -thirty-two by sixteen, though all but two of the sides would be common -to two of them. What I shall call a section of the frame includes all -the timbers in one end of the building. I say one end. Never mind the -length of the building. How many of these sections of the frame will -there be, Bellows?" - -"Six, of course," replied the student; and about half the boys laughed -outright. - -"Wrong," added Mr. Brookbine, joining in the laugh. "We have had this -subject up before in the shop, and I am sorry you have forgotten about -it. If you set up six stakes in the ground, how many spaces are there -between them, Bellows?" - -"Six, I should say;" and the boys all laughed again. - -"Set them up and count them," continued the master carpenter, rather -impatiently. - -Ned Bellows did so, and could count only five spaces. He was required to -add another stick, and this gave him the six spaces, as in the building. - -"How many stakes have you, Bellows?" - -"Seven," replied the student, rather sheepishly. "I see that there will -be seven sections of the frame." - -"Making no allowance for the docks, these seven sections are just alike, -and contain precisely the same timbers," continued Mr. Brookbine. "This -frame will be put together in sections, and each will be raised by -itself, by the aid of rigging and machinery." - -The boys began to ask questions, for some of them did not understand the -sections yet. The instructor sent for a blackboard, which he placed on -an easel; and with this he made the subject plain to all. There were -seven tiers of timbers to be set up, when framed and put together, just -like seven bricks, each placed on one end. - -"Now we will drop the sections for a time, and take them up again when -we are ready for them," the instructor proceeded, as he rubbed the -drawings from the blackboard. He then drew an outline of Chowder Point -and the shore near it. "Now I will mark where the twenty-one points of -support of the building are to be placed;" and he put this number of -small crosses on the board. "Some of these bearings are posts and some -are blocks, as they are in the water or on the shore. - -"The timbers which rest on these foundation-points are the sills. These -are the first we frame. They are twelve inches square. We cannot find -any in our pile ninety-six feet long, and we shall have to scarf or -splice them." While he spoke, he drew the positions of the sills on the -foundations. - -"But the boats can't go through that timber to get into the docks," -interposed Nat Long. - -"Let us attend to the general plan of the frame, and we will alter it -for the docks before we are done," replied the instructor, as he -proceeded to draw the five cross-timbers connecting the sills. "Now the -sills are laid down. Between the cross, or section sills, we put in the -floor joist. How far apart are the sections, Gawner?" - -"Sixteen feet." - -"These floor timbers are simply two-inch planks, nine inches wide. -There is a pile of them," said Mr. Brookbine, pointing to the lumber. -"They are to be placed sixteen inches apart, the sills being notched, or -mortised, to receive the ends. These joists must be bridged." - -"Bridged?" queried Ben Ludlow. - -"This must be done before the floor is laid, for we can't get at the -joist afterwards. Short pieces of board are nailed from the upper side -of one timber to the lower side of the next one, the ends being sawed at -the right bevel. Another piece is nailed in close to it, at right angles -with the first. A pair of bridge-sticks must be put in every five feet. -They are used to prevent the narrow timber from canting, thus giving a -firm and solid floor. - -"The next thing is to lay the floor; that is, we nail down boards over -all the timbers. This will make the lower floor. Now, I may say that the -framing for the end of the building where the docks are must be adapted -to their shape. The floor-timbers of the lean-tos for the dressing-rooms -will be supported by braces above and below from the posts. - -"Now, we will suppose that the entire floor, except the docks, is laid, -and we have a platform ninety-six by forty to stand upon. Before the -sills were put in place, they will be mortised to receive the tenons at -the ends of the posts, and of the braces. Now we are ready to return to -the sections of the frame. - -"To each section there are three posts,--one at each side, and one in -the centre of the building. On the upper ends of these posts rest the -plates;" and the instructor drew the parts as he described them. "They -connect the posts at the top, as the sills do at the bottom. About on a -level with the hall-floor are timbers, called girders, joining the -middle post with the outside ones. The sills, the plates, and the -girders are the principal timbers, and are the same in all the sections. - -"In every corner there is a diagonal brace, forming a right-angled -triangle with a base and a perpendicular of three feet. We shall mortise -for these braces, though of late years many carpenters simply spike them -in their places. Between the sills and the girders, and between the -girders and the plates, are the studs. They are made of four-by-two -stuff, or, in other words, of two-inch plank, four inches wide. The -sills, girders, and plates are mortised for them, and a two-inch tenon -cut at the end of each stick. Where windows come, short studs are put -in above and below them. They are placed sixteen inches apart. This -completes the frame below the roof." - -"Then we are ready to go to work," said one of the boys. - -"Not yet, for you don't expect the sections to stand alone. The frame of -the first section will be put together with the bottoms of the posts at -the mortises they are to occupy. It will be no easy job to get it up to -a perpendicular; but it can be done with pike-poles and a derrick, with -no little rigging. When we get it upright, the tenons will drop into the -mortises, and we have to stay it in position with braces and ropes. Then -we raise the second section in the same manner. There are plates and -girders on the sides as well as the ends of the building. While the two -sections are held in position, the girders and plates are put up to -connect them. The studs and braces are put in place, as in the end -section. - -"All the large timbers are pinned together. You will have a nice time in -making a cord or two of these pins. They are about an inch in diameter, -made a little large for the hole, so as to fit it snugly. We pin the -braces so that they will hold both ways, but the studs are not fastened -at all, for the tenons cannot get out of the mortises." - -"We can turn the pins," suggested Lick Milton. - -"You can; but while you are fitting the wood into the lathe I can cut -out two of them with a broad axe. Your eye must be educated to the size. -As we add each section to the building, we fill in the space between -this one and the next. Now we have the frame up all but the roof. - -"All structures are not framed alike, and some of the connections I have -mentioned have to be omitted in some places. For example, the braces -between the cross-girders and the posts can be used only in the ends of -the building. Again, all the middle posts, except the two at the ends, -must be short ones, for we don't want them in the middle of the hall. - -"The framing of the roof is a simple matter, though we shall have to -support the ceiling of the hall from it. To do this we use a little -larger timber than would otherwise be required for the rafters, as they -form a sort of truss, from which we hang the upper floor. I have -finished what I had to say; but the details will have to be explained as -we go along." - -"You can't do anything with some of these timbers," said Bob Swanton, -as he pointed to one near him. "It is twisted all out of shape." - -"That one is warped in the sun; but a stick must be very crooked before -we throw it out," replied Mr. Brookbine. "We must take the 'wind' out of -it. All we want is two faces at right angles with each other. We select -the two best sides, and with a couple of squares sight along each. Then -we must hew it down where it is out." - -The students were then required to take the square and compasses from -the box. The actual work of framing was to begin. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIX. - -THE STUDENTS USE THE SQUARE AND COMPASSES. - - -Mr. Brookbine stood on one of the timbers intended for the sills of the -boat-house. In his hand he held a steel square and a pair of compasses. - -"The pair of compasses I hold in my hand," he said, "are of the simplest -construction. Those you have in the shop are fitted with a screw-stop so -that you can fasten them in any required position. You will complain -that it is hard to move the legs of these, but as they must stay in -place without any screw, it is necessary that the joint be a tight fit." - -"Legs?" said a student. - -"You can call them shanks, if you prefer, or arms. There are a great -many technical names to parts of apparatus which are not often used -because they are not generally known," replied the instructor. "Since I -came to Beech Hill I learned that an oar consists of the handle, the -loom and the blade. Outside of the navy probably not one in ten ever -heard of the loom of an oar, or would know what it meant. In carpentry -the technical names used in one part of the country are not known in -other parts. Legs is the proper technical name of the two parts of the -compasses. - -"You notice that the points are more blunt than those you use in the -shop. In framing we use one of the legs as a marking-awl. The awl would -do just as well, but it is sometimes convenient to have the compasses in -your hand so that you can lay off a distance from the square with them. -The points are tapered more rapidly so that they will make a mark which -can readily be seen by the workman. - -"The steel square is one of the most important tools used by the -carpenter, and I could use up hours in telling you about it. The parts -have technical names, though few make a strict use of them. The corner -is called the heel, from which each of the four measures on it start. -The long arm is the blade and the short one the tongue. The blade is -just two feet long, or twenty-four inches." - -"Mine is only twenty-three," suggested one of the boys, all of whom were -examining their steel squares. - -"Mine is only twenty-two in one place, and twenty-three in another," -added another. - -"You are altogether too literal, and the letter killeth in carpentry as -well as in Scripture," replied Mr. Brookbine. "You must apply common -sense to the figures. Now look at the outside measure on the blade: find -the figure for one inch. That one means one inch in length, without -regard to breadth, as you define a line in geometry. Hold up the square -with the tongue down. Now does the inch of length lie on the right or -the left of the point marked one." - -"On the right," replied a dozen. - -"Now look at the point marked twenty-three: is the inch marked with this -number on the right or the left of it?" - -"On the right." - -"But there is another inch on the left of the mark, which is the -twenty-fourth inch, though there is no room to mark it uniformly with -the other numbers. Now, boys, look the thing over a little before you -raise an objection. I repeat that, on the outside, the blade is two feet -long. The student who said his blade was marked twenty-two in one place -was wrong in his fact, and if he looks again he will see that the -inside length of the blade is twenty-two and a half inches, which is -the outside width less the width of the tongue. - -"In these squares the tongue is sixteen inches long, on the outside, and -fourteen on the inside, marked in the same manner as the blade. The -inside length is two inches less than the outside, for the blade is two -inches wide, while the tongue is only an inch and a half. You must know -the square so that you can use it without stopping to study out its -meaning. - -"The tongue is sixteen inches long in this instance because it furnishes -a convenient measure for the placing of studs and furrings. The rule is -to put studs and furrings sixteen inches apart; but there is no law -which compels any carpenter or architect to follow it. Floor-joists are -usually placed at the same distance apart, though the rule is often -varied to meet the circumstances." - -"I don't know what a furring is," said one of the boys. - -"Furring a house is nailing strips of board, usually sawed at the mill -three inches wide, to the posts and studs for the sides, and the -floor-joist for the ceiling, on a room, at a distance of sixteen inches -apart, on which the laths are nailed for the plastering. If they were -placed at any other distance from each other, it would make great -confusion and waste in lathing. Laths are sawed four feet in length, so -as to cover the space from the middle of one furring to the middle of -the third one from it. Each lath is nailed to four furrings." - -"But every room can not be exactly divided into spaces of sixteen inches -in its length or breadth," suggested Harry Franklin. - -"Very true; but the sixteen-inch division is used as far as it will go, -and the lather must cut his laths for the last one. All the confusion -comes in at the end then. If any other division were made he would have -to cut every lath he used." - -"But I have seen furrings only two inches wide," Lew Shoreham objected. - -"No matter whether they are one or six inches wide: the rule is -followed. But sixteen inches means from the centre of one furring to the -centre of the next one; and the difference in the width comes into the -space between them. In some places they lath upon the studs, inside, and -clapboard upon them on the outside, without boarding. - -"There is no particular reason why the blade of the square should be -two feet long, except that it is a convenient length. The width of both -the blade and the tongue is important. In mortising the sill for the -studs, we shall cut out a square hole of an inch and a half, which is -the width of the tongue. We will begin with the timber on which I am -standing, which is a foot square. The posts will be eight inches square. -Baxter, measure four inches from the end. - -"This point will be the centre of the mortise for the post," continued -the master carpenter when the students had marked the distance. "Now lay -off sixteen inches, and stick the point of the compasses well into the -wood so that we can see the mark. This is the centre of the mortise for -the first stud. The stuff for the studding is four inches by two. Set -the points of your compass one inch apart, and keep them so for the -present. Lay off one inch on each side of the point you have made in the -sill." - -Baxter did as he was told, and the rest of the students watched him. - -"The space between the outside points is two inches, just the thickness -of the stud," continued Mr. Brookbine. "Put one point of the compasses -in either outside hole you have made; rest the tongue of the square -against the leg; let the blade hang over the side of the timber just far -enough to enable you to square across the upper face of the timber; -scratch a line across with the point of the compasses; in other words, -scribe it. Do the same with the other outside point. Now you have the -length of the mortise marked on the timber. - -"Place the tongue of the square against the outer face of the sill, its -length just even with the corner, and be accurate about it. Good! Now -scribe against the inside of the tongue. Move the square until the -outside of the tongue coincides with the line just made, and scribe as -before. The result is that you have ruled off the width of the tongue, -an inch and a half, at the same distance from the corner of the stick. -This gives you the other two sides of the mortise. You must measure, -mark, and scribe accurately, or our studs will not come in the right -place. - -"Now we will take a piece of studding, and finish the subject. The -mortise will be an inch and a half deep, and we are to mark off a tenon -to fit it. Set the square at the width of the tongue from the end of the -stick, scribe all around it. The thickness of the stud fits the mortise, -so that we have to cut away none of it. Place the tongue against the -face of the stud and scribe it. Do the same on the other side. Place the -tongue against the mark made and scribe again. You may scribe in the -same manner across the end of the stud. The result is that the tenon of -an inch and a half by two inches is marked off at the distance of an -inch and a half from the face of the stick. You can see that nothing but -the saws are required to do the work." - -"We can do all that fast enough," said Ben Ludlow. - -"The trouble is that you will do it too fast, and be careless about it," -replied the instructor. "It requires sound judgment to do this work -well. As I have told you before, one may waste his wages ten times over -in cutting up lumber. Before you put the saw into a stick, you should -consider what the piece you cut off is good for. Most of the timber is -selected for the frame, so as to make the least waste. I shall have a -great deal to say to you on this subject as we go along. No matter how -much money you have, or who pays the bills, there must be no unnecessary -waste. That he cuts stock to good advantage, is one of the best -recommendations for a mechanic." - -"Don't we have to fit the tenons to the mortises, and number them, or -something of that sort?" asked Luke Bennington. - -"Some carpenters frame in that way, which answers very well in a small -building," replied the instructor. "We shall use in the boat-house -between four and five hundred studs, for example, and it would be more -work to number and find them than it would be to frame the whole of -them. We shall frame by what is sometimes called the square rule. Any -long stud will fit any place where a long stud is required. The -jack-studs, or short ones, are of different lengths, and we classify -them by their size. Of course the short posts cannot be used in the -sides or ends, or the side posts at the corners; but all the sticks of -the same class are interchangeable." - -The master carpenter ended his lecture. The timbers for the sills had -been laid out for framing, and under the direction of the instructor, -the students proceeded to mark them off for mortising. It would require -a whole series of books to follow him in all the details. In what manner -he gave his instruction has been shown. Four students were instructed -how to mark for the posts, and they proceeded to do it. - -Four more were told how to mark for the tenons at the ends of the -posts, and as soon as they were fairly at them, four more were selected -to prepare the girders. A squad was put upon the braces, another on the -plates and a third on the studs. In a short time they were all at work. -Mr. Brookbine looked over the marks as fast as his time would admit. Of -course there were many mistakes, and these were pointed out. - -After an hour's use of the square and compasses, the boys needed a -change of work, and the instructor called for the framing-chisels and -mallets. All hands were set to mortising where the marks had been made -and proved to be correct. The students worked hard, and when night came -they did not feel much like skylarking. - -The next forenoon, while the pupils were at their studies, the master -carpenter went over the marks and measurements on the timbers. He was -surprised to find so few errors. Before noon he had arranged everything -for the afternoon. The boys worked hard, and the framing was not likely -to last long. - - - - -CHAPTER XXX. - -THE STUDENTS CELEBRATE THE COMPLETION OF THE BUILDING OF THE HOUSE. - - -The framing was finished, and the stone posts or the foundation in the -water were ready. Captain Gildrock had decided to have a submarine diver -to make a sure thing of the chinking up at the bottom. It was thought -best to make two cargoes of the foundations, especially as it was -necessary to carry a considerable quantity of other stone. - -Seven of the posts had been loaded upon the caisson, and the Sylph went -up to tow it down. The derrick had been erected in the centre of it, and -everything was ready to drop the foundations into their places. With the -handling of the stone the students had nothing to do; but they manned -the steamer, and moved the caisson as required. The experience obtained -in towing the caisson from Burlington had fitted the boys for their -work, and the tow was soon brought into position for setting the first -post. - -The two four-oar boats and the quarter-boats of the steamer were -manned, and were useful in carrying out the various guys and stays in -mooring the caisson. The posts were lowered into the water over one end -of the craft, the boom of the derrick being thirty feet long, so that -the equilibrium of the float could be better secured. - -The Goldwing was appropriated to the use of the sub-marine diver and his -assistants. He was the novelty of the occasion, for not one of the -students, with the exception of the two from New York city, had ever -seen the working of the apparatus. It was hardly a full exhibition, -however, for the water was not over the diver's head in any part of the -bay where he was to make a descent. - -The man dressed himself and put on his copper helmet in the -standing-room of the yacht; and the students gave him three cheers when -he was in full rig. The air-pump was placed on the forward deck, and the -hose through which the air was to be supplied to the diver was -conveniently arranged. A tub of stone chips of various size was ready to -be lowered down to him. - -"I don't see how they are to sling the post so as to drop it down into -the water plumb," said Oscar Chester, in the pilot-house of the Sylph, -which was alongside the caisson. - -"The quarrymen have drilled a hole in the top of each; the inside of -which is in the shape of the frustrum of a pyramid on two sides," -replied Dory Dornwood. "They have an iron made in the same shape, but -considerably smaller, which they drop into the hole. On the two slanting -sides they insert pieces of iron of uniform thickness, which just fill -up the hole. When these are in place you cannot pull out the middle -iron, to which the hoisting apparatus is attached." - -Oscar watched the process of making fast to the first post, and a sight -of the apparatus enabled him to comprehend its working. There were four -sheaves in the blocks used on the derrick; and the process of hoisting -and lowering, when the rope was wound up on a small cylinder, like that -on the machine, was very slow. But great power is obtained only at the -expense of speed. Bolly Millweed had been up to see the loading of the -posts on the caisson, and with two men at the winches it took hours to -put a single one on board. - -On his return he had a talk with Mr. Jepson, and the result of it was -that a cylinder was rigged in the shop which could be worked with the -engine. The distance of the derrick from the cylinder made it necessary -to use a very strong rope, which Captain Gildrock selected for the -purpose. A gong bell was rigged in the shop, to be rung with a cord. - -There was something for every student to do, and the work of each one -had been assigned to him. There were eight on the steamer, eight in the -boats, two on the Goldwing, four on the caisson, one of whom was to put -his whole mind upon the ringing of the gong bell, while Bolly Millweed, -who was regarded as the architect and engineer of the work, had three -assistants. - -Bolly was a great man on this occasion, and his father and mother stood -on Chowder Point, observing him with admiration. Doubtless Bolly "felt -his oats," but anyone who had been with Captain Gildrock a while did not -put on airs, and the architect conducted himself with becoming modesty. -He was really entitled to a great deal of credit, for not only the -plans, but many of the contrivances for setting the posts and raising -the building had been originated by him. - -Mr. Brookbine had insisted that it was next to impossible to set the -foundations properly in the water. Bolly thought there was no great -difficulty in doing this part of the work. He addressed himself to the -problem, and asked the master carpenter to select for him two straight -eight-inch timbers, thirty-two feet long. These were pinned together in -the form of a steel square, though with arms of equal length. Braces -were put on to keep the timbers exactly at right angles with each other. - -At the heel and the ends of this floating square he set up three poles, -straight and plumb, which were painted red. In the apparatus of the -school there was a surveyor's compass, with sights upon it. With this -instrument, used on the shore, he got the square in position, so that -the heel was where the first post was to be set. His three assistants -were in a boat, and moved the square by the signals he made. It was then -moored to the bottom, so that it could not be readily moved. - -The floating square was placed so that the outer corner would just touch -the inner corner of the post when it was set. At this point the -architect nailed a couple of laths so as to form two sides of a square -of the size of the foundation stones. In the middle and at each end of -the arms of the square, he also nailed laths, to mark the position of -four other posts, one of which formed the second corner of the end of -the building. - -Mr. Brookbine commended the engineer, though he had some doubts about -the floating square. The swinging of the caisson, or a slight rap from -the stone in lowering it, would knock the square out of place. Bolly -could only reply that the caisson must not swing, and the post must not -touch the square. - -At the order of the principal quarryman, Jim Alburgh rang the gong, the -long rope straightened, and the end of the post began to rise. The -square was three feet from one end of the caisson, which was moored at -the other end from the west side of the bay. Bolly was in one of the -boats with two of his assistants, the third being stationed on shore -with the compass, sighting along the red poles, to give notice of any -change in the position of the square. - -When it was raised high enough, the post was lowered slowly into the -water, a foot from the guides on the square. Bolly was nervous, and kept -telling the quarrymen not to let the stone touch the guides or the -square. The diver dropped into the water, and waded to the stone. When -the end of it was nearly on the bottom, the post was swung into place -so carefully that the marks were not disturbed. The diver chinked up the -stone, and it was accurately plumbed. - -When the first post was in place, the students gave three cheers. The -Sylph whistled lustily, and just at that moment the two Chesterfield -barges darted into Beech Hill Lake. They went over to the grove, where -they picked up a dozen of the Topovers. It did not look as though the -principal of the institute had much influence over them; for taking the -Topovers into their boats indicated that they were bent upon mischief. - -Captain Gildrock said nothing about the barges and their occupants, and -did not seem to notice them. The work proceeded as though they had been -on the other side of the lake. The Sylph moved the caisson into position -for laying the second post, which was on the side, to avoid changing the -mooring-ropes as much as possible. - -The Chesterfields rowed up to a point where they could see what was -going on, and watched the work for a while. It was no "circus" for them, -and they soon pulled to the shore on the west side of Hornet Bay. Dory -watched them from the pilot-house, and soon had occasion to report to -the principal that the Chesterfields and Topovers had hold of the -mooring-rope of the caisson. He had not finished what he was saying -before the stone boat suddenly moved towards the site of the building, -and then knocked Bolly's square out of place. - -Captain Gildrock took command this time himself. The chief quarryman was -a constable. He asked all the rest of the men and boys to act as his -posse, and all hands were ordered into the steamer. The mischief-makers -had taken the mooring-rope into the Dasher, and had headed out into the -lake. The steamer darted after them. The boats let go the rope, and -attempted to escape by the way they had come. The Sylph was too much for -them, and both boats were captured. The principal directed the constable -to take the two coxswains and Tom Topover out of them, and they were -shut up in the ice-house on board of the steamer. - -The others were permitted to depart, which they were glad to do when -they found that Captain Gildrock "meant business." The prisoners were -kept till noon in the ice-house, when they were taken before a -magistrate, and a complaint made for trespass and for stealing the boats -on a former occasion. They were sent to the lock-up, but Colonel -Buckmill came over before night and bailed out Commodore Twinker and -Jeff Monroe. - -At the trial a case was made out, and all the defendants were subjected -to a fine, which Tom's father would not pay, and he was kept in jail for -two weeks. Colonel Buckmill paid those of his students. He had warned -them before of the peril of meddling with the Beech Hill students, and -probably he did it again on this occasion. What good it did we may learn -from another book of this series. At any rate the Chesterfields and the -Topovers did not go to Beech Hill Lake again that year. - -Bolly arranged the square again, and the rest of the posts were set. The -sills were then loaded on the caisson, from which they were laid on the -posts. The rest of the lower timbers were put in place by the students, -with the help of the laborers only. The rafts of boards, which had been -secured to the shore until they were wanted, were towed to the frame, -and the racket of six-and-twenty hammers resounded through the grove for -the next two afternoons. The boys learned to drive nails, but there was -not so much fun in it, they found, when they came to make a business of -it. The sawing and fitting of the boards for the floor gave some -variety, and they were required to sharpen their judgment in the -prevention of waste. - -While the students were at their studies, the laborers carried the -timbers of the frame to the platform, and the next job was to put them -together in sections. The caisson was securely moored off the east end -of the site by ropes leading to the shore. The boom of the derrick was -"topped up" until it was perpendicular to the deck of the craft. Slings -were rigged at the intersection of the three end posts with the plates, -from which three lines came together at the foot of the middle post. - -"Now, boys, we want three sailors," said Captain Gildrock, who attended -personally to the rigging. "What they have to do may be considered -dangerous in the country, though not more so than going upon the -cross-trees of a ship, and I shall call for volunteers." - -Every student raised his hand, for all of them wanted the difficult -positions. The principal selected three who had had some experience in -going aloft; and they were Dory Dornwood, Matt Randolph and Luke -Bennington. - -"You will take your places at the top ends of the posts, and be hoisted -up with them. Hold on to the slings, and don't get your hands jammed in -them," continued the principal. "I shall want three more to go up on the -next section, and Glovering, Short, and Chester will be ready for this -duty. None of you will come down till the entire frame is raised." - -The fall from the derrick had been brought over in a boat, and hooked on -to the loops from the slings. The order to ring was given, for the power -was supplied by the engine in the shops, as before, and the section -began to rise. Mr. Miker, the lessee of the quarry, and his men, had -volunteered to assist at the raising. The grounds contained a great many -people who had come as spectators, and there were more volunteers to -take part than could be employed. - -Mr. Brookbine stood at one corner post, and Mr. Miker at the other, with -a stone-cutter at the middle one, all armed with iron bars. The -principal difficulty in raising the sections was in preventing the foot -of the post from moving from its place. A sling had been rigged three -feet from the tenon on each post, kept from slipping by a pin through -the hole in the brace mortise, to which a twofold purchase, made fast at -the other end to the sill, was attached. The purchase-tackle was hauled -taut, and a student was to slack it with a double turn around a timber, -as the post ascended. The iron bars were to be used in guiding the tenon -into the mortise. - -Everything worked precisely as had been intended; for Captain Gildrock -took no chances and incurred no risks. The machinery and the ropes were -strong, and all sorts of possible accidents had been provided for. The -students on the top of the moving section waved their caps when they -were well up in the air, and those below cheered them; but the principal -would not allow any boys' play which might distract the attention of the -workers. - -"Now man the check lines," called the principal, when the section -approached a perpendicular position. - -These were ropes passing through a single block, leading down in the -rear from the plates. Without these the section might have fallen over -upon the derrick when it reached an upright position. The check lines -were hauled taut, and paid out as the derrick rope brought it to its -permanent place. The tenons were successfully directed into the -mortises, and the men with the iron bars were relieved from the duty of -using them. Each of them had a spirit level, which was also a plumb. As -the section approached its proper position, the men applied the plumb. - -"Ring!" shouted the master carpenter; and the student on the caisson -pulled his rope. The section was not yet finally plumbed, but was -secured by ropes and board stays. The sailors on the plates cast off the -slings and the check lines, which were immediately attached to the -second section; and this one was raised in the same manner as the first -had been. - -By the check lines the students on the frame hauled up five single -blocks, which were made fast at the head of the long posts. A single -whip was rigged at each, and with these the side plates and the girders -were hoisted to the places where they were required. The sailors -inserted the tenons in the mortises, as the timbers were elevated in a -horizontal position, and drove in the pins. - -A great many contrivances unknown to carpenters were used, by the aid of -which many of the boys became men; but the reading about them will not -be half so exciting as was the actual use of them. When the timbers had -all been put in place, including the studs in the sides, but not the -floor joists, the two sections were plumbed. - -The rest of the raising was done in the same manner. At noon all the -volunteers dined with the students, and a grand dinner was given in -honor of the occasion. Before night the raising was finished. - -A great collation was served on the lawn at sundown, and the Genverres -band played all the evening. The grounds were thronged with people, and -an impromptu dance, in which most of the students took part, closed the -festivities of the day. - -The rest of the Building of the House was a matter of detail, and the -work was done in shop time. By the first of November the boat-house was -shingled and clapboarded, the windows were put in, and a few temporary -doors were hung. During the winter the students got out the finish, and -the building was entirely completed on the first day of June of the -following year. - -The wharf had been finished according to Bolly Millweed's plan by the -middle of May. The parts of the truss bridge had been made in the shop -in the winter. The sides of the caisson were built up of the timbers -which had remained inside of it from the beginning. The architect fixed -its position with the compass from the shore. The Sylph towed rafts of -refuse stone to the enlarged caisson, and it was sunk into position. A -plank floor was laid on the top of it, and Bolly's dream became a -reality. - -Of course such an event as the completion of the great boat-house and -the wharf could not be passed by without a suitable celebration. This -included a magnificent collation, music on the lawn, and a big social -dance in the hall. Many people from Burlington attended it, and even Lew -Shoreham was willing to admit that the uniform of the Beech Hill -Industrial School was a big thing, inasmuch as no young lady would look -at a young man on that day who did not wear it. In fact it had come to -be regarded as an honorable distinction, and the students were proud to -wear it. - -The Building of the House by the students had given the school no little -reputation, and the "Tinkers" were lions in many places where they went. -Captain Gildrock had applications enough to quadruple the number of his -pupils, and he was considering the question of enlarging the sphere of -its usefulness from the beginning of the next year. - -Among those present at the celebration of the completion of the -boat-house were Mr. Plint the architect, and the fat civil engineer, -Mr. Bridges. The former was so pleased with Bolly's work and his ideas, -that he offered him a place in his office at Albany, with a salary of -fifty dollars a month, as a draughtsman. Bolly did not want to leave the -school, but his father's circumstances made it his duty to accept the -offer. - -The civil engineer wanted a young man, and Lew Shoreham found a place -with him, for he had to earn his own living. Corny Minkfield and John -Brattle had places offered to them to run stationary engines in a marble -quarry; but as they were still young, the principal advised them to -remain another year at the school. A dozen of the students could have -obtained fair wages as carpenters, but they were counselled to continue -their studies. - -The thoughts of the boys at Beech Hill had a nautical tendency, and -Captain Gildrock was now ready to carry out his second great idea, which -was to build a sailing craft somewhat larger than the Goldwing; and the -next volume will explain how, in the midst of many adventures with the -Chesterfields and the Topovers, the students did all the work, from -"Stem to Stern," in the practical work of "Building the Boat." - - - - -_OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS._ - - -ARMY AND NAVY STORIES - -Six Volumes. Illustrated. Per vol., $1.50. - - -1. THE SOLDIER BOY; - Or, Tom Somers in the Army. - -2. THE SAILOR BOY; - Or, Jack Somers in the Navy. - -3. THE YOUNG LIEUTENANT; - Or, Adventures of an Army Officer. - -4. THE YANKEE MIDDY; - Or, Adventures of a Navy Officer. - -5. FIGHTING JOE; - Or, The Fortunes of a Staff Officer. - -6. BRAVE OLD SALT; - Or, Life on the Quarter-Deck. - - -This series of six volumes recounts the adventures of two brothers, Tom -and Jack Somers, one in the army, the other in the navy, in the great -civil war. The romantic narratives of the fortunes and exploits of the -brothers are thrilling in the extreme. Historical accuracy in the -recital of the great events of that period is strictly followed, and the -result is not only a library of entertaining volumes, but also the best -history of the civil war for young people ever written. - - - - -_OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS._ - - -YACHT CLUB SERIES. - -Uniform with the ever popular "Boat Club," Series. Completed in six -vols. 16mo. Illustrated. Per vol., $1.50. - - -1. LITTLE BOBTAIL; - Or, The Wreck of the Penobscot. - -2. THE YACHT CLUB; - Or, The Young Boat-Builders. - -3. MONEY-MAKER; - Or, The Victory of the Basilisk. - -4. THE COMING WAVE; - Or, The Treasure of High Rock. - -5. THE DORCAS CLUB; - Or, Our Girls Afloat. - -6. OCEAN BORN; - Or, The Cruise of the Clubs. - - -The series has this peculiarity, that all of its constituent volumes are -independent of one another, and therefore each story is complete in -itself. "Oliver Optic" is perhaps the favorite author of the boys and -girls of this country, and he seems destined to enjoy an endless -popularity. He deserves his success, for he makes very interesting -stories, and inculcates none but the best sentiments; and the "Yacht -Club" is no exception to this rule.--_New Haven Jour. and Courier_. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Square and Compasses, by Oliver Optic - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SQUARE AND COMPASSES *** - -***** This file should be named 52351-8.txt or 52351-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/2/3/5/52351/ - -Produced by Chris Curnow, Martin Pettit and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - -Title: Square and Compasses - Or Building the House - -Author: Oliver Optic - -Release Date: June 16, 2016 [EBook #52351] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SQUARE AND COMPASSES *** - - - - -Produced by Chris Curnow, Martin Pettit and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - -</pre> - - -<div class="center"><a name="cover.jpg" id="cover.jpg"></a><img src="images/cover.jpg" alt="cover" /></div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="box"> -<p class="bold2"><i>The Boat-Builder Series.</i></p> - -<hr class="smler" /> - -<p class="center">I.<br />ALL ADRIFT;<br />OR,<br />THE GOLDWING CLUB.</p> - -<p class="center">II.<br />SNUG HARBOR;<br />OR,<br />THE CHAMPLAIN MECHANICS.</p> - -<p class="center">III.<br />SQUARE AND COMPASSES;<br />OR,<br />BUILDING THE HOUSE.</p> - -<p class="center">IV.<br />STEM TO STERN;<br />OR,<br />BUILDING THE BOAT.</p> - -<p class="center">V.<br />ALL TAUT;<br />OR,<br />RIGGING THE BOAT.</p> - -<p class="center">VI.<br />READY ABOUT;<br />OR,<br />SAILING THE BOAT.</p></div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="center"><img src="images/frontis1.jpg" alt="The stem of the Winooski struck the bow of the -Chesterfield barge" /></div> - -<p class="bold">"The stem of the Winooski struck the bow of the<br /> -Chesterfield barge."—<a href="#Page_68">Page 68</a>.</p> - -<hr /> - -<div class="center"><img src="images/frontis2.jpg" alt="BOAT-BUILDER SERIES SQUARE AND COMPASSES" /></div> - -<hr /> - -<div class="center"><img src="images/titlepage.jpg" alt="title page" /></div> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_i" id="Page_i">[Pg i]</a></span></p> - -<p class="bold"><i>THE BOAT-BUILDER SERIES</i></p> - -<hr class="smler" /> - -<h1>SQUARE AND COMPASSES</h1> - -<p class="bold">OR</p> - -<p class="bold2">BUILDING THE HOUSE</p> - -<p class="bold space-above">BY</p> - -<p class="bold2">OLIVER OPTIC</p> - -<p class="bold">AUTHOR OF "YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD," "THE GREAT WESTERN<br /> -SERIES," "THE ARMY AND NAVY SERIES," "THE WOODVILLE<br /> -SERIES," "THE STARRY FLAG SERIES," "THE BOAT-CLUB<br /> -STORIES," "THE ONWARD AND UPWARD SERIES,"<br /> -"THE YACHT-CLUB SERIES," "THE LAKE-SHORE<br /> -SERIES," "THE RIVERDALE SERIES," "ALL<br /> -ADRIFT," "SNUG HARBOR," ETC., ETC.</p> - -<p class="bold space-above">With Illustrations</p> - -<p class="bold space-above">BOSTON<br />LEE AND SHEPARD PUBLISHERS<br />NEW YORK CHARLES T. DILLINGHAM</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_ii" id="Page_ii">[Pg ii]</a></span></p> - -<p class="center"><i>Copyright</i>,<br />1884,<br /><span class="smcap">By Lee and Shepard</span>.</p> - -<hr class="smler" /> - -<p class="center"><i>All Rights Reserved.</i></p> - -<hr class="smler" /> - -<p class="center">SQUARE AND COMPASSES.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_iii" id="Page_iii">[Pg iii]</a></span></p> - -<p class="center">TO</p> - -<p class="center">MY YOUNG FRIEND,</p> - -<p class="center">ROBERT M. BAKER,</p> - -<p class="center">THIS BOOK</p> - -<p class="center">IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[Pg v]</a></span></p> - -<h2>PREFACE.</h2> - -<p>"<span class="smcap">Square and Compasses</span>" is the third volume of "<span class="smcap">The Boat-Builder Series</span>." -All the characters connected with the Beech Hill Industrial School who -were presented in the preceding story will appear in the present issue. -In addition to these, the students of another educational institution, -on the other side of the lake, are introduced, as well as a gang of -ruffianly young marauders residing in the vicinity of the Champlain mechanics.</p> - -<p>These additions to the acting force of the story are made, not merely -for the sake of the incidents and adventures to which their appearance -gives rise, but for the contrast between well-behaved mechanics and -ill-behaved gentlemen, and between boys well-trained and those not -trained at all, as in the example of the Topovers.</p> - -<p>It is true that the writer regards a reasonable amount of exciting -incident and adventure as necessary to hold the attention of his -readers, but he has never been satisfied to present only these. While -naked didactic pages covering the duties of young people are usually -skipped or favored with only a hasty glance, the moral<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi">[Pg vi]</a></span> quality of the -actions and speech of a favorite character may produce a deep impression -on the mind and heart of the reader. What the Good Samaritan or the -Unjust Steward said and did, convey lessons which simple precepts may -fail to impart. The moral of the writer's stories is in the words and -actions of the characters, and the contrast between the lives of the -good and those of the bad.</p> - -<p>The author adheres to the rule he has followed for the lifetime of a -generation: never to present bad characters in such a light as to win -the admiration and sympathy of the reader; and he still believes in the -old-fashioned practice of rewarding the good and punishing the evil in -the story.</p> - -<p>As in the last volume, it is a part of the writer's purpose to interest -young people in the mechanic arts, and to illustrate the results of good -discipline. He is a firm believer in Industrial Schools, whether public -or private, and is satisfied that our country has reached a stage in its -development when more attention than ever before must be given to -practical agriculture and the mechanic arts. He sincerely hopes the -present series will do something to promote the cultivation of a taste -in this direction, as well as to afford moral instruction and innocent amusement.</p> - -<p><span class="smcap">Dorchester, Mass.</span>, Aug. 20, 1884.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[Pg vii]</a></span></p> - -<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> - -<table summary="CONTENTS"> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER I.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td></td> - <td><span class="smcap">Page</span></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">Some Indications of a Rebellion</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_9">9</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER II.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">An Impromptu Race between the Beech Hill Barges</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_19">19</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER III.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">Dory Dornwood argues the Question</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_29">29</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER IV.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">The Chesterfields hang out their Banners</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_39">39</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER V.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">Just before the Battle</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_49">49</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER VI.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">The Coxswain of the Winooski indulges in More Strategy</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_59">59</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"> <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii">[Pg viii]</a></span></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER VII.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">An Unsatisfactory Conference on the Waves</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_69">69</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER VIII.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">The Chesterfields surrender their Banners</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_79">79</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER IX.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">A Rebellion in the School-Room</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_89">89</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER X.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">Important to Boy-Architects and Engineers</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_99">99</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER XI.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">Dory Dornwood confronts the Topovers</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_109">109</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER XII.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">Tom Topover has Reason to be Astonished</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_119">119</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER XIII.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">A Victory for the Topovers</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_129">129</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER XIV.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">The Pursuit in the Goldwing</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_139">139</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER XV.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">The Skipper uses a Nautical Lasso</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_149">149</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"> <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_ix" id="Page_ix">[Pg ix]</a></span></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER XVI.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">Commodore Tom Topover visits the Goldwing</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_159">159</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER XVII.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">The Chesterfields and their Allies renew the Battle</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_169">169</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER XVIII.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">Dory Dornwood deals in Moral Courage</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_179">179</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER XIX.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">Something more about the Beech Hill Rebellion</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_189">189</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER XX.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">The Visiting Committee at Beech Hill</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_199">199</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER XXI.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">The Orator of the Rebels obtains a Hearing</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_209">209</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER XXII.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">Bolly explains the Plans for the Boat-House and Wharf</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_219">219</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER XXIII.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">Volleys of Questions asked and answered</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_229">229</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"> <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_x" id="Page_x">[Pg x]</a></span></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER XXIV.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">The New Captain of the Sylph</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_239">239</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER XXV.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">The First Officer and Party in Battle Array</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_249">249</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER XXVI.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">The Result of the Battle on the Caisson</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_259">259</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER XXVII.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">The Interview between the Two Principals</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_269">269</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER XXVIII.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">Something about framing the Boat-House</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_279">279</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER XXIX.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">The Students use the Square and Compasses</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_289">289</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2"> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td colspan="2" class="center">CHAPTER XXX.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="left"><span class="smcap">The Students celebrate the Completion of the Building of the House</span></td> - <td><a href="#Page_299">299</a></td> - </tr> -</table> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span></p> - -<p class="bold2">SQUARE AND COMPASSES;</p> - -<p class="bold">OR,</p> - -<p class="bold">BUILDING THE HOUSE.</p> - -<hr class="smler" /> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER I.</span> <span class="smaller">SOME INDICATIONS OF A REBELLION.</span></h2> - -<p>"What's the use of wearing a uniform? We are not soldiers, and you are -not going to make soldiers of us, Captain Gildrock," said Ben Ludlow, -when the principal of the Beech Hill Industrial School announced, at the -close of the afternoon session, that the students would be required to -wear a peculiar dress. "I don't believe in being dressed up like a -monkey on a hand organ."</p> - -<p>"You can't always tell the monkey by the dress he wears, and some boys -insist upon being monkeys in whatever garb they appear," added the -principal; for he encouraged them to express their opinions in a -gentlemanly manner on all subjects.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> "Soldiers are not the only class -that wear uniforms. They are worn in the navy as well as in the army. I -think I have heard no objection from anyone to the sailor rig worn on -board of the Sylph."</p> - -<p>"I think it is all right when we are on board of the steamer; but who -wants to go about Genverres dressed up so that everybody will stop on -the sidewalk to look at him?" replied Ben, who spoke confidently, as -though he thought he had a first-rate argument.</p> - -<p>"As those who have opinions are expected to express them, I must say I -think Ludlow is right?" interposed Mr. Brookbine, the master-carpenter. -"I believe that, for plain republicans, we are getting altogether too -much uniform into our daily life. Why, all the conductors on the steam -and horse cars, all the telegraph boys, all the letter-carriers, all the -policemen, and in some cities even all the gas men, have to wear -uniforms."</p> - -<p>"It seems to me very proper that all you have mentioned should wear -uniforms," quietly returned the principal.</p> - -<p>"I don't think so," answered the carpenter stoutly. "It looks a little -too much like the fuss and feathers of monarchical countries for our<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> -democratic institutions. I couldn't help laughing when I saw one of the -porters of the Bank of England dressed out like a lord high admiral, or -Sir Peter Teazle in the play."</p> - -<p>"Now you argue against the extravagance of uniforms, and not against -uniforms themselves," retorted the principal. "I am in favor of -uniforms, but not of ridiculous uniforms. Should you be willing to give -your ticket or money to anyone on the train that chose to ask for it, -Mr. Brookbine?"</p> - -<p>"I don't think I should," laughed the master-carpenter, as he saw the -point of the argument. "In fact I remember a case, before uniforms came -into fashion, where a smart chap went through a car, and collected -several dollars and a handful of tickets, and then left the train, -before the conductor put in an appearance. I will give it up on -conductors."</p> - -<p>"Not many years ago a villain got into a house in one of our large -cities, on the plea that he was a gas man; before he left it he had -committed a murder. Then the newspapers said the employés of the gas -company ought to wear uniforms, so that people could tell whom to admit -to their houses. I believe it is now the fashion in that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> city to wear -them. A shrewd boy in Burlington collected a dollar and a half from a -lady in the absence of her husband, by delivering her a bogus telegraph -despatch."</p> - -<p>"I never thought of the matter in this light before, captain," added Mr. -Brookbine. "If uniforms are of any use, I don't object to them, -certainly."</p> - -<p>"But we are not telegraph boys, gas men, or conductors," Ben Ludlow -objected.</p> - -<p>"No, you are not; but the other day two of our students went into a -saloon in Genverres, and each of them drank a glass of lager beer. I -don't believe they would have done it if they had worn the uniform of -the Beech Hill Industrial School."</p> - -<p>This statement produced a decided sensation among the students, and they -thought they understood the object which the uniform was expected to -accomplish.</p> - -<p>"I don't allow any boy to use intoxicating drinks while under my -control. If I can't prevent it, I will expel the pupil; for I will not -have his ruin on my conscience. I expect every student to have a proper -regard for the credit and honor of this school, and conduct himself, -wherever he may be,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> in such a manner as to cast no discredit or -dishonor upon it."</p> - -<p>Captain Gildrock spoke with more feeling than usual, and his remarks -made a deep impression upon the students. They promptly applauded what -he had said, thus indicating that they would respect the good name of -the institution. The principal did not check their demonstration on the -present occasion, and he seemed to be pleased with it.</p> - -<p>"The students of the Chesterfield Collegiate Institute, on the other -side of the lake, don't wear any uniform," suggested Ben Ludlow, who -realized that he had been thoroughly beaten in the argument. "Colonel -Buckmill, the principal of the Institute, says that gentlemen, such as -his pupils are, don't need uniforms."</p> - -<p>"Of course Colonel Buckmill has a perfect right to his own opinion on -this subject, as I have to mine," replied Captain Gildrock. "The -Chesterfields will wear no uniform, but the Beech Hill students will -wear a uniform. I think we need not argue the question any more. The -uniform is ready, and you will put it on in the morning. It is merely a -plain suit of blue, with our initials on the cap."</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span></p><p>Some of the boys did not like the idea of a uniform. Something had been -said about it before, and the topic had been discussed in the boats. A -few thought it interfered with their independence. It would enable every -person in the city to know them at sight.</p> - -<p>If they got into mischief, or visited improper places, the uniform would -betray them. The principal knew that two of them had drank beer in a -saloon: he did not say what further information he had on this subject, -and the students were not disposed to prolong the discussion in this -direction.</p> - -<p>Though they did not like to face the beer question, the boys were -disposed to be a little sullen over the new order. They had not been in -the school long enough to attain a very high state of discipline, and -most of them had wills of their own. A large proportion of them had been -in the habit of having their own way, and, to them, wearing a uniform -was about the same thing as being placed under guard all the time.</p> - -<p>"One thing more," interposed the principal, as the students were about -to leave the shop. "As I announced on the day the school was opened, I -intend to offer a prize for the best plan of a <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span>boat-house, to be -erected by the students on the border of Beech Hill Lake. I shall submit -the offer the first thing to-morrow morning, after you have put on your -uniforms."</p> - -<p>The boys had been very much interested in the proposed new house; not so -much on account of the accommodations it was to furnish them, as because -they were to build the house themselves. Not a few of them had already -considered plans for the structure, and the prizes would introduce a new -element of excitement. But somehow the announcement fell rather coldly, -and some of the pupils were more inclined to get up a rebellion against -the new uniform than to compete for the prize.</p> - -<p>Captain Gildrock left the shop, and went to the house. He could not help -seeing that there was a spirit of disaffection among the students. They -did not like the uniform, but the principal regarded it as a necessity, -for he believed it would correct some tendencies to rowdyism he had -observed among the boys, and especially that it would deter them from -entering any disreputable places.</p> - -<p>The boys went to the dressing-room, removed their overalls and jumpers, -and attended to their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> ablutions. Little knots of them conversed in low -tones about the uniform; but a considerable number of them were sure to -be loyal to the principal, and they were careful not to allow their -remarks to be heard by such pupils.</p> - -<p>The two twelve-oar barges, which had been provided by the principal and -brought up to the lake two weeks before, had not yet become an old -story. During the past fortnight the two crews had practised nearly -every day with the oars, and had made excellent progress.</p> - -<p>The two coxswains, Matt Randolph of the Gildrock, and Dory Dornwood of -the Winooski, had a conference after every trip in the boats in order to -determine what more was to be done for the improvement of the rowing. -Captain Gildrock and Luke Bennington often made suggestions to them, but -all instruction and discipline in the boats was left to the coxswains. -The principal never gave an order except through the proper officer.</p> - -<p>The instruction in swimming had been continued on every suitable day, -and, as the boys were deeply interested in this amusement, they soon -became very expert in the art. The timid ones obtained the necessary -confidence, and the shallow waters of Beech Hill Lake were abandoned -for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> those of Champlain itself. The boating and swimming were now -combined, and an excursion to Sandy Beach had been arranged for the day.</p> - -<p>"Hurry up, fellows; we haven't any too much time, for it is a four-mile -pull to Sandy Beach," said Matt Randolph, when he saw that the crew of -his boat were thinking of something besides the excursion.</p> - -<p>"I don't know that I care about going," replied Lew Shoreham, with a -cross-grained look.</p> - -<p>"Don't care about going?" exclaimed the coxswain of the Gildrock. "What -has come over you fellows?"</p> - -<p>"I don't like the idea of being dressed up like a monkey," answered Lew, -apparently fanning his discontent.</p> - -<p>"And all because a couple of fellows took a glass of beer each," added -Bob Swanton.</p> - -<p>"I should like to know how many fellows ever took any beer since they -joined the school," continued Lew Shoreham. "I never drank any for one."</p> - -<p>"I never tasted beer in my life," said Phil Gawner.</p> - -<p>"I never tasted it but once in my life, and then it made me as sick as a -horse," added Lick Milton.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span></p><p>Several others gave their testimony to the same effect, or declared -that they had drank none since they joined the school.</p> - -<p>"I see you are trying to get up a rebellion," said Matt Randolph. "I -have drank lager beer a few times in New York, but not a drop since I -came to this school. I don't object to the uniform, and I think the -regulation requiring it is a very reasonable one. But I am not going to -jaw about it now. All the Gildrocks to the boat."</p> - -<p>"All the Winooskis to the boat," added Dory Dornwood.</p> - -<p>About two thirds of the students followed the coxswains to the lake. It -looked as though the other third intended to rebel at once, for they -remained in the dressing-room after the others had gone.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER II.</span> <span class="smaller">AN IMPROMPTU RACE BETWEEN THE BEECH HILL BARGES.</span></h2> - -<p>"Here are eight of us, and not one of the eight has touched any beer -since he joined the school," said Lew Shoreham, after the majority of -the boys had gone, and he had got the bearings of the question under -discussion.</p> - -<p>"I am in favor of standing out, for one," added Tom Ridley. "I am -willing to do my duty and obey all the rules, but I am not going to be -rigged out like a state-prison bird when I haven't done anything out of -the way."</p> - -<p>"It looks like punishing the whole crowd for the sins of the two fellows -who drank the beer," continued Harry Franklin.</p> - -<p>"If the captain knows who the fellows are, why don't he put them into -uniform, and not make black sheep of the whole of us?"</p> - -<p>"I don't believe in doing anything in a hurry," interposed Bart -Cornwall. "If we are going to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> stand out, we want to know what we are -about before we begin."</p> - -<p>"That's my idea," added Bob Swanton. "Let us understand what we are -going to do before we begin."</p> - -<p>"Perhaps we had better talk it over among ourselves before we do -anything," mused Lew Shoreham. "There is time enough before to-morrow -morning."</p> - -<p>"That's the idea," Life Windham chimed in. "The worst we can do is to -refuse to wear the uniform; and we can't refuse before the clothes are -given to us."</p> - -<p>"By the way, did you fellows hear that the Chesterfield students have -two barges like ours?" inquired Phil Gawner.</p> - -<p>"I know they have, for I saw the kid-glovers out in them," replied Lick -Milton.</p> - -<p>"When did you see them, Lick?" asked Lew Shoreham.</p> - -<p>"Day before yesterday. They were pulling in the barges near the shore."</p> - -<p>"The rest of the fellows will go off without us if we don't hurry up," -added Bart Cornwall. "Sandy Beach is not far from the Chesterfield -Institute."</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span></p><p>Phil Gawner bolted from the room in hot haste, and the other rebels -followed him. The rebellion seemed to be forgotten, for there was -already something like rivalry existing between the two educational -institutions on the opposite sides of the lake. The Chesterfield young -gentlemen, when they came within hailing distance of the boys of Beech -Hill, had taken occasion to manifest their contempt by words, signs, and -other demonstrations. They called the industrial school "The Tinkers' -Institute," and this term was exceedingly offensive to our boys.</p> - -<p>But the beautiful steam yacht in which the "Tinkers" voyaged on the -lake, and especially the magnificent twelve-oar barges in which they -sported upon the waves, excited the envy of the "Kid-Glovers." Colonel -Buckmill suddenly found his prestige slipping away from him. He had a -variety of boats for the use of his students, though none of them were -sailing craft. He was no sailor himself, and he had a mortal dread of -sailboats.</p> - -<p>As soon as he realized the state of feeling among his students, he -hastened to New York, where he succeeded in finding a couple of barges -like those which had been built for the Beech Hill school. He had -purchased them at a large price, and they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> had arrived a few days -before. Colonel Buckmill was a soldier and a gentleman, but he wished -that Captain Gildrock had located his fanciful school, as he regarded -it, a thousand miles from Lake Champlain.</p> - -<p>"What's the matter now?" demanded Matt Randolph, when the rebels rushed -out on the pier at which the two barges lay. "I thought you were going -to deprive us of the pleasure of your company to-day."</p> - -<p>"We have concluded to go with you, and keep you out of hot water," -replied Lew.</p> - -<p>"And keep yourselves out of hot water, which is more sensible," added -the coxswain of the Gildrock, as he seated his crew in the boat.</p> - -<p>"I thought you were not going for fear some one would see you and know -that you belong to the B. H. I. S.," added Will Orwell, with a laugh.</p> - -<p>"Up oars!" shouted Matt, when the crew of both boats were seated; and -the order was repeated by Dory.</p> - -<p>Ten oars in each boat went up to a perpendicular, with the flat side of -the blades parallel with the thwarts. The coxswains looked them over to -see that all were in proper position.</p> - -<p>"Shove off!" continued the coxswains.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span></p><p>The bow oarsmen shoved off the head of each barge, and the stroke -oarsmen used their boathooks until the boats were clear of the pier. -Then the bowmen coiled up the painters, and the after oarsmen took care -of the stern lines. When they had done this duty, they elevated their -oars without any orders.</p> - -<p>"Let fall!" said Matt and Dory, when the boats were clear of the pier. -The crews had been so well trained that the twenty-four oars struck the -water at the same instant; but the loom, or part near the handle, of the -oars was not allowed to fall upon the rail, or into the rowlocks. They -are put in proper position after they are dropped.</p> - -<p>"Give way—together!" said Matt and Dory, when they had seen that each -oarsman was ready for the pull.</p> - -<p>All the rowers caught the stroke the first time trying, but it had taken -a great deal of practice to enable them to do so. The boys pulled a very -even, uniform, and steady stroke. All the oars were raised to the same -height above the water, and sunk to the same depth beneath its surface.</p> - -<p>The barges were not mere fancy craft, built for speed, and for nothing -else. Considering their great size they were very light, but they were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> -strongly built. They were constructed after a beautiful model, yet at -the same time they were good sea boats, able and safe. As the students -were liable to be caught on the other side of the lake in rough weather, -Captain Gildrock considered staunch boats as necessary on Lake Champlain -as on the ocean. The short, choppy sea of the fresh-water lakes is more -trying to any kind of a craft than the long waves of the Atlantic.</p> - -<p>The two barges darted down the lake as though they had been shot from a -gun. It was a cool day, with the wind fresh from the northwest, and the -crews were in just the right condition to do their best at the oars. -Since their recent defeat in the race, the first class had been working -hard to improve in rowing, and Matt Randolph had succeeded in imparting -his own enthusiasm to his crew. But nothing was said about another race, -for the first class meant to be sure before they risked another trial. -Dory Dornwood saw what the machinists—as they sometimes called the -higher class—were about, and he did not go to sleep.</p> - -<p>The boats passed through the narrow outlet into Beaver River, and the -Winooski appeared to have lost a length in coming down from Beech Hill<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> -Lake. Dory watched the Gildrock, and soon discovered that she was -gaining on him. The other crew had been practising by themselves a good -deal lately, and it was evident that Matt Randolph had made a decided -improvement both in style and power in the work of his crew.</p> - -<p>Dory said nothing, and did not attempt to increase the speed of his -boat. At the mouth of the river the Gildrock was half a dozen lengths -ahead of him, and her crew seemed to be exerting themselves to widen the -distance between the two barges. The boys of the leading boat could see -the other all the time, while the Winooskis could not, for no rower was -allowed to look behind him.</p> - -<p>"The Gildrock is half a mile ahead of us!" exclaimed Life Windham, the -stroke oarsman of the Winooski; for the other boat had changed her -course to the southward, and a side glance had enabled him to see her.</p> - -<p>"Not so bad as that, Life," replied Dory, with a smile.</p> - -<p>"Don't let them beat us, Dory," added Ned Bellows, on the next thwart.</p> - -<p>"They have been getting ready to whip us," said Dick Short. "They have -been at work by themselves for the last week."</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span></p><p>"They have got about all the older and stouter fellows in the school, -and we must expect that they will beat us sometimes," replied Dory -philosophically. "But we have also been in training, and if they beat us -they have got to work for it."</p> - -<p>"But they are beating us!" exclaimed Life, as he got another glance at -the Gildrock. "Matt Randolph has been putting in some extra New York -touches, and it is all up with us."</p> - -<p>"Not yet," answered Dory quietly. "We have been taking it easy, and they -have been using their muscle. Wait a little."</p> - -<p>By this time every boy in the Winooski was aware that the Gildrock was -running away from them, and the fact vexed and annoyed them. If they -were beaten, even in a "scrub race," Dory would lose a portion of his -popularity. The coxswain watched the other boat, but he did nothing to -increase the speed of the Winooski. Some of the boys in the boat began -to grumble, though conversation was not allowed while rowing.</p> - -<p>"No talking in the boat, if you please, fellows," the coxswain -interposed, and the grumbling ceased.</p> - -<p>Dory could see that the Gildrocks were straining themselves to run away -from the Winooski.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> The first class fellows were not so far off that he -could not read the expression of their faces, and see the smiles of -satisfaction with which they regarded their advantage. He permitted them -to enjoy their victory, as they evidently regarded it, until they were -at least twenty-five lengths ahead. Matt Randolph frequently looked -behind him to note the position of his rival.</p> - -<p>All at once the oars of the Gildrock ceased to move, but every blade was -in proper position. Then came three rousing cheers from her crew, with a -tiger at the end. This was certainly crowing over the victory: The -Winooskis, except the coxswain, were vexed, and even angry. Some of them -began to grumble again; but Dory laughed, and called for silence in the -boat. The crew obeyed the order, for they had come to believe that Dory -knew what he was about "every time."</p> - -<p>His crew soon knew what he was about, for he straightened up his wiry -little frame, and then began to sway it back and forward to regulate the -stroke of the rowers. In a few minutes every muscle was strained up to -its utmost tension. The Winooski began to fly through the water. There -was quite a smart sea on the lake, which Dory took into account, and -humored the boat as it met the waves.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span></p><p>The Gildrocks saw what Dory was doing, and Matt set his crew on the -strain again. At the end of a quarter of an hour the Gildrock was less -than a length ahead. The crew of the first class boat were in a terrible -state of excitement. They could see the other boat, and the effect upon -them was bad when the Winooski began to gain on them. The Gildrocks were -demoralized.</p> - -<p>In three minutes more the Winooski had passed the other barge.</p> - -<p>"Stand by to toss!" said Dory quietly.</p> - -<p>The complimentary salute was given, but the coxswain declined to call -for three cheers.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER III.</span> <span class="smaller">DORY DORNWOOD ARGUES THE QUESTION.</span></h2> - -<p>"How did we do it, Dory?" asked Life Windham, utterly astonished at the -result of the impromptu race, as were all the other members of the crew.</p> - -<p>"We did it by minding our own business," replied the coxswain, as much -pleased as though he had won a rich prize.</p> - -<p>"Can't we give them three cheers, Dory?" inquired Ben Ludlow.</p> - -<p>"No cheers, fellows," replied Dory, shaking his head to emphasize his -decision.</p> - -<p>"But the Gildrocks cheered when they got ahead of us," suggested Ben -Ludlow.</p> - -<p>"No matter if they did; it was bad taste, and they crowed before they -were out of the woods."</p> - -<p>"But I don't understand how it was that we happened to beat them," -persisted Life Windham. "As you said, they have most of the older and -stouter fellows in their crew."</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span></p><p>"They ought to beat us every time," added Ned Bellows.</p> - -<p>"Age and strength alone won't make the best rowers," replied Dory -sagely. "Some of the fellows in the other boat are rather heavy and -clumsy, and, without boasting, I believe they have not got the knack of -rowing well yet."</p> - -<p>"Do you think we have got the knack, Dory?" asked Phil Gawner.</p> - -<p>"I think we have got it better than the fellows in the other boat, -though we have a good deal to learn yet. You have more spring, -elasticity, than the other fellows. But, fellows, we beat them by -discipline. You grumble because I don't want you to talk and look behind -you; but you obeyed orders, and that's what did the business."</p> - -<p>"The first class fellows didn't talk or look behind them," said Life.</p> - -<p>"They had no occasion to look behind them, for they could see our boat -without," replied the coxswain. "When they saw us gaining on them they -were excited, and in a little while they got demoralized. You couldn't -see them, and you did your very best."</p> - -<p>"Matt Randolph is making a speech at them," said Dick Short, laughing.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span></p><p>"He knows why he was beaten, and he is telling his crew about it," -added Dory.</p> - -<p>The coxswain of the Gildrock was certainly talking as though he "meant -business," for his words and his gestures were very earnest. He and Dory -had talked about the subject upon which Matt was at this moment -eloquent. Both agreed that if all the oarsmen could be blindfolded they -would do better in a race. It was the province of discipline to keep -them unmindful of success or defeat.</p> - -<p>"Stand by to lay on your oars!" called Dory suddenly, while his crew -were still watching the gesticulations of Matt Randolph.</p> - -<p>The crew of the Winooski, who had been pulling very leisurely for some -minutes, gave attention to their officer at once.</p> - -<p>"Oars!" added Dory: and, the moment he gave the word, the oars were -levelled at right angles with the length of the boat, with the blades -feathered.</p> - -<p>All the crew looked at the coxswain, wondering what was coming, for they -had taken a rest after the Gildrock was beaten, and were not in need of -another. This was the usual position of the crew when the officer had -anything to say, or any announcement to make.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span></p><p>"Now you may look behind you, if you wish," continued Dory, with a -meaning smile.</p> - -<p>Every rower believed there was something to be seen, or the permission -would not have been given, and they all availed themselves of the -opportunity.</p> - -<p>"The kid-glovers afloat!" shouted Thad Glovering, in the bow.</p> - -<p>"Gentility on the wave!" exclaimed Life Windham.</p> - -<p>"The dudes in the spray!" added Jim Alburgh.</p> - -<p>"The exquisites on a racket!" cried Nat Long.</p> - -<p>"Dandies on the brine!" chuckled Ben Ludlow.</p> - -<p>"Fresh-water brine," added Dory.</p> - -<p>"They are pulling towards Sandy Beach," said Corny Minkfield.</p> - -<p>All these sarcastic remarks were called forth by the appearance ahead of -two barges, similar to those belonging to the Beech Hill school. They -were very gaily painted, and, whatever their merits for speed and -ability, they were quite as handsome as the Gildrock and Winooski.</p> - -<p>"Twig the uniform!" exclaimed Ned Bellows.</p> - -<p>"But that's only a boat uniform," replied Life Windham, who was one of -the incipient rebels. "None of our fellows object to the uniform they -wear on board of the Sylph."</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span></p><p>The uniform of the Chesterfields—for there was no doubt as to the -identity of the occupants of the barges—was blue flannel, trimmed with -white. It was very fanciful, and rather a sensational costume.</p> - -<p>"I suppose every one of them wears an eyeglass, and has a cane under his -thwart," laughed Phil Gawner.</p> - -<p>"And every one parts his hair in the middle, so as to keep the boats on -an even keel," added Lick Milton.</p> - -<p>"Anything more?" inquired Dory.</p> - -<p>"I wonder if they row in kid gloves," said Ben Ludlow.</p> - -<p>The boys seemed to have exhausted their terms applicable to the young -gentlemen of the Collegiate Institute, and a silence followed. There -could be no mistaking the sentiment of the crew of the Winooski. They -were disposed to ridicule and lampoon the young gentlemen without mercy. -Possibly there was some justification or palliation for the -manifestation of this spirit, for the Chesterfields had applied -offensive terms to them on several occasions.</p> - -<p>"Now, fellows, I should like to have you hear me for a moment," said -Dory, when the crew<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> appeared to have exhausted their supply of taunts.</p> - -<p>"All right, Dory: propel," answered Phil Gawner.</p> - -<p>"Those boats seem to be going to Sandy Beach; but that is no reason why -we should not go there also."</p> - -<p>"Of course it isn't!" exclaimed Ben Ludlow. "We have as much right at -Sandy Beach as they have, and if they want to prevent us from going -there, there will be music in the air."</p> - -<p>"It is not at all likely that they will try to prevent us from going -there," added Dory. "Those fellows claim to be gentlemen, and Colonel -Buckmill claims it for them."</p> - -<p>"The proof of the pudding is in eating the bag," said Ben Ludlow.</p> - -<p>"This is a baked pudding, and there isn't any bag," returned Dory. "If -those fellows are gentlemen they have made some slips, to put it in the -softest way we can. They have yelled at us, and called us 'tinkers,' -which is not a gentlemanly way to do things."</p> - -<p>"That's it; and we will give them some of the same sauce," said Phil -Gawner, with a threatening shake of the head.</p> - -<p>"That's the very thing we will not do!" <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span>exclaimed Dory, with very heavy -emphasis. "If the Chesterfields behave in an ungentlemanly manner, there -is not the slightest reason why we should do so."</p> - -<p>"Do you mean to let them call us names?" demanded Lick Milton, with a -great show of indignation.</p> - -<p>"I am not responsible for what they do: only for what I do myself," -answered the coxswain, with dignity enough for the principal of a high -school.</p> - -<p>"But we are not going to shut our mouths and let them insult us," -protested Ben Ludlow.</p> - -<p>"What do you mean by insulting you, Ben?" asked Dory quietly.</p> - -<p>"They call us members of the 'Tinkers' Institute;' and that is an insult -to the school to which we belong. For one, I won't stand it!"</p> - -<p>"What do you intend to do about it?"</p> - -<p>"I mean to pay them back in their own coin."</p> - -<p>"Call them dudes, kid-glovers, exquisites, dandies, milksops, and -anything else we can think of," added Ned Bellows.</p> - -<p>"Will calling them all these names wipe out the insult?" asked the -dignified coxswain; but it should be said, to his credit, that he was -dignified only when he was discussing great moral questions as the -officer in command of the barge.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span></p><p>"We shall get even with them in that way," answered Ben Ludlow.</p> - -<p>"If one of them should steal your watch, Ben, it would make him a -thief—would it not?"</p> - -<p>"No doubt of that."</p> - -<p>"Then you would steal his watch, and thus get even with him, would you?" -continued Dory, pressing his point with vigor.</p> - -<p>"I don't say that I would," replied Ben.</p> - -<p>"You would certainly get even with him in that way. I should like to -have you answer the question, Ben."</p> - -<p>"I should serve him right if I did steal his watch after he had taken -mine," replied the cornered oarsman.</p> - -<p>"That don't answer the question, and, after what you say, I must take it -for granted that you would steal his watch."</p> - -<p>"I didn't say I would."</p> - -<p>"If you did steal his watch, would you, or would you not be a thief?"</p> - -<p>Ben Ludlow did not like to answer this question, and he was silent.</p> - -<p>"Of course he would be a thief!" exclaimed Life Windham; and half a -dozen others took this view of the question.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span></p><p>"If the owner of the watch should prosecute you, would the judge decide -that taking the watch was not stealing because the owner of it had -stolen your watch before you did it?"</p> - -<p>"Stealing is stealing, of course," answered Ben Ludlow.</p> - -<p>"Then you would both be thieves," added Dory clinching his argument.</p> - -<p>"There is no getting away from that conclusion," said Ned Bellows; and -the rest of the crew indorsed his opinion.</p> - -<p>"I suppose one who calls names is a blackguard. When the students of the -Collegiate Institute call us 'tinkers' 'greasy mechanics' or any other -offensive names, they are blackguards," continued Dory.</p> - -<p>"No doubt of that, the blackguards!" exclaimed Dick Short.</p> - -<p>"Good! We proceed to call them 'dudes,' 'kid-glovers,' 'exquisites' and -such terms, and straightway we become blackguards also."</p> - -<p>"I don't think stealing and hitting back are the same thing," growled -Ben Ludlow, who felt that he was thoroughly beaten in the argument.</p> - -<p>"But what makes a thief or a blackguard on one side of the lake makes a -thief or a blackguard on the other side," added Dory.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span></p><p>"Now, fellows, you have just won a victory by holding your tongues and -minding your own business. I want you to obey orders, and win another -victory in the same way."</p> - -<p>"All right, Dory; we will obey orders, for you get us through every time -when we do," said Corny Minkfield.</p> - -<p>"But I think we ought to give them some if they are saucy to us," -persisted Ben Ludlow.</p> - -<p>"We will give them some—some instruction in gentlemanly behavior if -they need it," replied Dory. "Give way!"</p> - -<p>Ben Ludlow raised no farther objection, and the boat went ahead again in -the direction of Sandy Beach.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER IV.</span> <span class="smaller">THE CHESTERFIELDS HANG OUT THEIR BANNERS.</span></h2> - -<p>"Not a fellow will speak without orders," said Dory Dornwood, as the -Winooski approached Sandy Beach.</p> - -<p>The coxswain of the barge felt that a great responsibility rested upon -him. He had no doubt the young gentlemen of the Chesterfield Collegiate -Institute would indulge in epithets when they came within hail of the -Beech Hill boat, for they never failed to do it whenever the opportunity -was presented. Matt Randolph was still laying down the law to his crew, -and the Gildrock was not within a mile of the little cove at the head of -which was Sandy Beach.</p> - -<p>If the crew of the Winooski retorted, as they were disposed to do, there -would be a war of epithets, and the affair would not be likely to end -without a fight. No one on board questioned the coxswain's pluck. Some -of them called him a "conundrum," because they could not understand him.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span></p><p>Oscar Chester had the reputation of being the greatest fighting -character in the school, though he had earned his name in other fields. -Yet Dory had "knocked him out" in the twinkling of an eye. But the -coxswain always did his best to avoid a quarrel of any sort, and never -bullied or crowded anyone.</p> - -<p>Now he would not allow his crew to retaliate upon the Chesterfields, -whatever they said, or however abusive they became. The crew of the -second class boat had never seen a fellow like him. But he had proved -that he was able to take care of himself and of them, and they were -disposed to follow his lead.</p> - -<p>The three boats were approaching the cove, the course of the Winooski -being at right angles with that of the Institute boats. They were now -near enough to enable Dory to take the measure of the rival craft, and -their crews. Under the lee of the west shore the water was quite smooth, -so that the Chesterfields had no sea to contend against.</p> - -<p>To the experienced eyes of the coxswain of the Winooski it was plain at -a glance that the gentlemanly oarsmen had no skill in rowing, and had -had no proper instruction in the art. A few days' practice enabled them -to pull together; but this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> was about all that could be said of their -operations. As it was understood on board of the Beech Hill barges, -there was no such thing as discipline in them. The crew were turning and -twisting about on the thwarts, all of them engaged in noisy -conversation.</p> - -<p>The Chesterfields were staring with all their eyes at the Winooski, and -their remarks evidently applied to her. They were out for a good time, -and they seemed to be having it. Dory's crew had put themselves on their -good behavior, and not one of them looked to the right or the left, much -less behind him. They pulled a very easy stroke, and they all worked as -though they were parts of the same machine. But those in the other boats -did not seem to be at all impressed by the ease and grace of their -movements.</p> - -<p>The three boats came to the mouth of the cove at the same time. The -attention of every student in the Chesterfield boats was directed -towards the Winooski. They were giving more thought to the Beech Hill -craft than to their own.</p> - -<p>"Go it, Tinkers," yelled one of them, as the boats came within hailing -distance.</p> - -<p>"Put her through, Chip-splitters," shouted another.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span></p><p>"Let her drive, Cog-greasers," yelled a third.</p> - -<p>"Shove her along, Shaving-makers," screamed a fourth; and all of them -cried as though they meant to be heard.</p> - -<p>The blood of the Beech Hillers boiled in their veins; but when they -looked at the coxswain, and saw a smile upon his face, they repressed -their indignation as well as they could, and tried to be as cool as Dory -Dornwood. The two barges came nearer, and the offensive epithets were -repeated, with many new ones added. Still Dory Dornwood smiled serenely -in the consciousness that he and his companions had not yet become -blackguards.</p> - -<p>"Stand by to toss!" called the coxswain, while the disagreeable names -were still showered upon them.</p> - -<p>Tossing the oars is a complimentary naval salute; and Dory was -determined to treat the young gentlemen of the Collegiate Institute -politely, whether they deserved it or not. Probably the crew of the -Winooski did not relish this idea of "turning the other cheek also," but -they had promised to obey orders, and they meant to do it this time, if -it killed them.</p> - -<p>"Toss!" added Dory, at the proper time; and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> the twelve oars went into -the air as though the oarsmen were in love with the Chesterfields.</p> - -<p>"The Greasers are showing off!" exclaimed some one in the leading barge.</p> - -<p>"Set them up again!" cried another.</p> - -<p>"Let fall!" said Dory, giving no heed to the shouts.</p> - -<p>The oars dropped into the water all as one, and Dory added the order to -give way.</p> - -<p>"They don't understand the salute," said the coxswain, as the boys -resumed their stroke with as much precision as though there had been -nothing to divert their attention.</p> - -<p>The steady pulling on board of the Winooski set her into the cove some -distance ahead of the two barges, and by this time the crew could see -the occupants of the other craft without breaking the rule. When they -saw the awkward rowing of the Chesterfields, they could hardly repress -their mirth, but they succeeded in confining it to smiles, in some cases -exaggerated into broad grins, but not one of them uttered the shouts of -derision that were at the ends of their tongues.</p> - -<p>On the bow of the leading boat Dory saw the name Dasher, and a glance at -the other showed that she was the Racer. As these names had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> no doubt -been selected by the gentlemanly students themselves,—for Colonel -Buckmill would certainly have chosen classic appellations,—they -conveyed some idea of the boating views of their crews. Racer was -suggestive of trials of speed, and they would not have been boys if they -had not desired and expected to beat something. Dasher was hardly less -suggestive, and perhaps took in the additional idea of breaking -something.</p> - -<p>The Dashers and the Racers had given so much attention to the Winooski -that they lost sight of their own beautiful craft; and they began to -"catch crabs," punch each other with the handles of the oars, and allow -things generally to fall out of joint, so that they were soon in a sweet -snarl. The crew of the Winooski were on the very point of breaking out -into a roar of derision, for the sight was too much for them.</p> - -<p>"Steady, fellows," said Dory, in a mild tone. "Keep her just as she is."</p> - -<p>The words restored the crew to their self-possession, and they -straightened their faces with a hard struggle. The coxswain of the -Dasher spoke a few sharp words to his crew, and restored order in his -boat.</p> - -<p>"I say, Greasers," shouted he, a moment later,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> making a gesture as if -beckoning to the Winooski.</p> - -<p>Dory did not heed the call or the sign.</p> - -<p>"Halloo! I say, you fellows from the Tinkers' Institute!" yelled Wash -Barker, coxswain of the Dasher, as his name and style were afterwards -found to be.</p> - -<p>The crew of the Winooski still pulled their easy stroke, and Dory took -no notice of the offensive hail.</p> - -<p>"I say, you Chip-makers! Are you all deaf? Don't you hear me?" screamed -Wash Barker in a still louder tone.</p> - -<p>But Dory would not have heard him if his voice had been an earthquake -while he mixed an epithet into his remark.</p> - -<p>"Don't you want to race with us, Tinkers?" called Mad Twinker, the -coxswain of the Racer, which had now come up abreast of the Dasher.</p> - -<p>"Steady, fellows," said Dory in a low tone.</p> - -<p>"I should like to try a race with those fellows," added Life Windham; -and half a dozen others indorsed the wish.</p> - -<p>"It would be no race at all; if we should give them a mile, we could -beat them in going two," replied Dory.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span></p><p>"It will do them good to beat them," suggested Ned Bellows.</p> - -<p>"While they call us names I shall have nothing to say or do with them," -added the coxswain.</p> - -<p>"I should like to get even with them in some way," said Ben Ludlow; for, -"though beaten, he could argue still."</p> - -<p>"I don't want to get even with them. We are a long way ahead of them in -gentlemanly conduct, and we should have to fall back a long distance to -be even with them," answered the coxswain.</p> - -<p>This remark satisfied most of the crew, and was even comforting to Ben -Ludlow. The Chesterfields continued to yell at the Winooski, exercising -their inventing powers in inventing new terms of derision to apply to -the Beech Hill students. Dory maintained his policy of silence to the -end, and very likely the collegiate gentlemen thought they were treated -with contempt.</p> - -<p>The Winooski ran up to the beach at the head of the cove, and her crew -landed. The Gildrock was not yet in sight, and it was apparent that Matt -Randolph was taking his defeat very much to heart, and was training his -crew. The second class boat was carefully secured, and in a few minutes -more the crew were swimming at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> some distance from the shore, for they -had to go out at least ten rods to find water that was over their heads.</p> - -<p>The boys were enthusiastic in this recreation, as they were in the -boats, and they soon forgot the scenes in which the Chesterfields had -taken part. They had received plenty of instruction in swimming, and -what they needed now was abundant practice. But by this time there was -not a single one of them who could not sustain himself and make fair -progress in the deep water.</p> - -<p>The Dasher and the Racer had also run to the beach, and their crews had -landed. Dory supposed they were going into the water, and he hardly gave -a thought to them. For a time they gathered in knots on the shore, and -seemed to be busy talking together. Then they began to walk about, and -extended their ramble to a considerable distance. They did not go into -the water, and at the end of half an hour they embarked in their boats -and pulled out of the cove.</p> - -<p>But they did not go a great way. At the entrance to the cove, half a -mile distant, they lay upon their oars. Thus far the Winooskis had been -so busy with their sports in the water that they hardly heeded the -Chesterfields. The young<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> gentlemen had departed, and the skirmishing -for that day appeared to be at an end.</p> - -<p>"What are those fellows about?" shouted Corny Minkfield, when the -operations of the Chesterfields attracted his attention.</p> - -<p>Every member of the Winooski's crew glanced in the direction from which -the two barges had been last seen. The boats were at rest at the -entrance of the cove; but their crews were not laying on their oars. -Each one of them had raised something like a flag or a rag on his blade. -They were all yelling like maniacs, and flaunting these banners in the -air. The Winooskis swam to shallow water, and stood upon their feet. It -was time to go out, and they went ashore.</p> - -<p>The Chesterfields had stolen their clothes; and these garments were the -banners they flaunted.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER V.</span> <span class="smaller">JUST BEFORE THE BATTLE.</span></h2> - -<p>"They have stolen our clothes!" shouted Ben Ludlow, who was the first to -discover the mischief that had been done.</p> - -<p>"Shall we steal theirs if we can get hold of them?" asked Dory.</p> - -<p>"We can't get hold of them," replied Ben, who was not disposed to renew -the former discussion.</p> - -<p>"Perhaps we can; we know where they are, and all we have to do is to go -and take them," added the coxswain, with a smile and a shrug of the -shoulders.</p> - -<p>"But the fellows have them on," Ben objected.</p> - -<p>"That has nothing to do with the right and wrong of the question," -continued Dory.</p> - -<p>"I think we had better get back our own clothes before we talk of -stealing theirs," said Ben. "I am cold now I have come out of the water, -and I want my shirt and trousers."</p> - -<p>"We are all in the same pickle," laughed Dory, as he glanced at the -boats of the Chesterfields.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span></p><p>The collegiate gentlemen seemed to be afraid the Beech Hillers would -not know what had become of their garments, and they were flaunting them -in the air as a matter of information to their rivals. And they seemed -to be enjoying the situation hugely, and the shouts of derision and the -roars of laughter came across the waters thick enough to stir up all the -bad blood in the veins of the Winooskis.</p> - -<p>"We are in a pretty fix," exclaimed Phil Gawner, as he extended his arms -as an athlete would exhibit his muscles.</p> - -<p>The principal required every student to wear trunks when he bathed, and -was very strict in enforcing the rule. When the second class came out of -the water, they were certainly in uniform, though it was rather unique -in style. It was a cool day, and cooler on the shore than it was in the -water. Most of the boys began to shiver as they stood on the beach, and -the situation was very uncomfortable as well as very annoying, so far as -the proprieties of society were concerned.</p> - -<p>"I shall freeze to death," said Lick Milton, his teeth chattering like -those of a person with the ague.</p> - -<p>"So shall I! And we shall all catch our death of cold," added Jim -Alburgh.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span></p><p>"I have one cold now, and I shall have another on top of it," shivered -Corny Minkfield.</p> - -<p>"All the crew in the boat!" shouted Dory, with a vim that showed he was -determined to do something.</p> - -<p>"All aboard!" cried half a dozen others, as they tumbled into the barge.</p> - -<p>Half the crew were required to shove her off before they took their -places; but in a minute they were all afloat, wondering what the brisk -coxswain intended to do.</p> - -<p>"We can get warm if we can't do anything else," said Dory, as he took -the tiller lines in his hands, "Up oars! Shove off! Let fall! Give way!" -The last order was given when the boat had been shoved clear of the -sands of the beach, and had come about so that it was headed out into -the lake.</p> - -<p>The unclothed rowers bent to their oars, and the Winooski began to spin -through the water. The exercise was in the highest degree exhilarating -under the circumstances. Dory had the worst of it for he had no oar to -pull; but he swayed his body with more than usual vigor, and the wind of -the crew was not likely to last a great while under the rapid movements -required of them.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span></p><p>The coxswain shook up his frame and muscles all he could, and he soon -ceased to shiver. A couple of minutes were enough to send a glow through -the veins of the rowers, and they were soon as warm as though they had -been clothed in their overcoats.</p> - -<p>The Dasher and the Racer continued to flaunt their banners in the air, -and to send their shouts of derision over the water, until the Winooski -had reached her highest speed. Very likely Wash Barker and Mad Twinker -had some idea of the rapidity with which the Beech Hill barge was -approaching them. At any rate they hauled down their banners, and got -their oars into the water.</p> - -<p>In spite of their present semi-nude condition, the Winooskis were still -under the influence of the usual discipline, and they did not attempt to -look behind them, or otherwise to inquire into the movements of the -Chesterfields. But the coxswain knew that the curiosity of a boy is -almost as strong as his love of fun, and he was in the habit of giving -his companions all the information that would interest them.</p> - -<p>"The Chesterfields have taken down the clothes and are pulling with all -their might to keep out of our reach," said he, when he was warm enough<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> -to use his organs of speech without stammering.</p> - -<p>"That is not saying much," replied Life Windham.</p> - -<p>"We shall overhaul them in about three minutes," added Dory.</p> - -<p>"What then, Dory?" asked Ben Ludlow, but his wind was so nearly gone -that he could hardly speak.</p> - -<p>"I don't know, that depends," answered the coxswain.</p> - -<p>"If they don't choose to give us back our clothes, I don't see that we -can do anything," said Life Windham.</p> - -<p>"Perhaps we can, we will see."</p> - -<p>But Dory was very anxious in regard to the situation, and he found it -very difficult to decide what to do. True to his antecedents, he wished -to avoid a quarrel, or even a dispute, with the members of the -Collegiate Institute. If he went near them there was sure to be trouble; -but it would be impossible to recover the clothes without approaching -them.</p> - -<p>There were only two courses open to him: one was to return to Beech Hill -with his naked crew, and the other was to confront the Chesterfields;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> -and a meeting might result in their being obliged to go back to the -other side of the lake in their present novel uniform. It would be -humiliating to return in a state of nature, and to encounter the -derision of the first class.</p> - -<p>Was it necessary for him to submit to every indignity without resistance -in order to avoid a quarrel? Must his crew submit to being robbed of -their clothes rather than stand up for their rights? Must they abandon -their property rather than make an effort to reclaim it,—rather than -run the risk of a quarrel?</p> - -<p>Dory decided these questions in the negative very promptly. His religion -was stalwart enough to make him believe there was such a thing as -carrying even meekness too far. If there proved to be a quarrel, he -should go into it with clean hands, having done nothing to provoke it; -and what was true of himself personally was true of every member of his -crew. Not one of them had uttered a jeer or a taunt in the hearing of -the assailants. They had minded their own business in the fullest sense -of the phrase; and whatever happened they were not to blame.</p> - -<p>The boys were warm and comfortable by this time, and the coxswain had -greatly reduced the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> rapidity of the stroke. The rowers had regained -their breath, and were watching the anxious face of Dory with the most -intense interest. There were twenty-six of the Chesterfields, which was -double their own number, and to get their clothes by force did not look -like a hopeful enterprise to any of them. But the Gildrocks were not far -off, and their assistance could be had for the asking.</p> - -<p>"Now, fellows, we must overhaul those boats," said Dory in his usual -quiet tone, when he had decided not to return to Beech Hill in their -present uniform.</p> - -<p>"What are you going to do, Dory?" asked Ben Ludlow curiously; and the -same question was on the lips of every member of the crew.</p> - -<p>"I intend to do whatever it may be necessary to do. We are going after -our clothes, and we must get them the best way we can," replied the -coxswain.</p> - -<p>"But suppose they won't give them to us?" suggested Life Windham.</p> - -<p>"The clothes belong to us, and we have urgent need of them at just this -time. If they won't give them to us, we must take them, if we can," -answered Dory.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span></p><p>"But we can't," added Phil Gawner.</p> - -<p>"We can't tell till we try."</p> - -<p>"Don't you think we had better call on the Gildrocks, and get them to -help us?" Ned Bellows asked.</p> - -<p>"That's the idea!" exclaimed Lick Milton. "Then we shall have as many -fellows as they have."</p> - -<p>"Do you see anything of the Gildrock?" inquired Dory with a smile.</p> - -<p>"I don't see her, but she can't be far off," answered Lick, as all the -crew cast their eyes over the lake astern of them.</p> - -<p>"I think she has gone into Rock Harbor," said Jim Alburgh. "The -Gildrocks don't want to see us just yet, after the whipping they have -had."</p> - -<p>"If we go after the Gildrock it will be half an hour before we can get -back here again. Those fellows will hide our clothes while we are gone, -and I am not in favor of losing sight of them for a moment," added Dory.</p> - -<p>"But what's the use of going ahead when we can't do anything if we come -up with them?" said Ben Ludlow.</p> - -<p>This question was discussed for the next few minutes; and it was plain -that Ben Ludlow and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> several others had "no stomach for the fight" which -they believed would grow out of a meeting with the Chesterfields. If -there was going to be a fight, they wanted to be equal in numbers to the -enemy; and they felt that the older and heavier fellows of the other -boat would make an even thing of it.</p> - -<p>For this reason they were not in favor of following up the Chesterfields -until they were reinforced by the Gildrocks. This was the view of -several of the crew, but the majority, whatever their opinion, were -entirely willing to leave the whole matter to the plucky but prudent -coxswain. He had always brought them out of all difficulties, and they -were more disposed to trust him than to depend upon themselves. They -were vigorous in their support of Dory, declared that they would obey -orders whatever broke, and hoped he would do what he thought best.</p> - -<p>Those who were anxious to follow their own views were compelled to yield -the point, and they ceased to offer any further resistance. Ben Ludlow -and the others who had been so desirous of getting even with the -Collegiates were not so earnest as they had been. They were ready to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> -"call names," and throw mud, but when it looked like a brush of another -kind, their backs were not so stiff.</p> - -<p>"Fellows, you have behaved first rate so far, and I hope you will do so -to the end of this affair," said Dory, after all questions had been -settled. "You kept still when I asked you to do so, and, whatever -happens, we shall go in with clean hands. I don't know how we can settle -this matter with those fellows, but I want you to be silent and let me -do all the talking with them."</p> - -<p>"All right, Dory: propel," replied Corny Minkfield; and the sentiment -was promptly indorsed by all the others.</p> - -<p>The coxswain began to increase the speed of the Winooski, which had -already gained half the distance between the boats. In a few minutes she -was within hail of the enemy.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER VI.</span> <span class="smaller">THE COXSWAIN OF THE WINOOSKI INDULGES IN MORE STRATEGY.</span></h2> - -<p>The Chesterfields were struggling with all their might at their oars. -They appeared to have no idea of the speed of the Winooski, and -evidently entertained the idea that they could run away from her when -they exerted themselves to the utmost. But Wash Barker and Mad Twinker, -the coxswains, had apparently learned one thing: and this was that their -crews could not handle the boats so well in rough as in smooth water.</p> - -<p>The cove where they had stolen the clothes of the Beech Hill boys was at -the narrowest part of the lake, where it was not more than a mile wide. -Even here they had kept under the lee of the shore, and had been in very -little troubled water. Half a mile below the cove was Northwest Bay, -where the lake is four miles wide. The Chesterfield Collegiate Institute -was on the north shore of the bay, near the point where the lake begins -to contract its width.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span></p><p>There was silence on board of the Winooski, though the young gentlemen -in the two barges were yelling as much as they could while exerting -themselves at the oars. The latter were in great glee, and seemed to be -in the highest enjoyment of the situation. Dory studied the movements of -the two boats, and soon satisfied himself that their coxswains were -hugging the northwest shore, so as to avoid the heavy sea, which -prevailed at even less than half a mile from land. Dory decided to block -this game, and he headed the Winooski to the windward of the enemy.</p> - -<p>Such a contest could hardly be called a race, for the vastly superior -pulling of the crew of the Winooski allowed her crew to have it all -their own way. Though the Chesterfields did not yet understand it so, -the Beech Hill boat could easily pull around them.</p> - -<p>"Good, fellows! You are pulling first rate," said Dory, when the boat -had obtained the position in which the coxswain wished to place her. "We -are abreast and exactly to windward of them now."</p> - -<p>"What is coming next, Dory?" asked Life Windham; and all the crew had an -interest in the question.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span></p><p>"I don't know: it all depends upon circumstances," replied Dory. "Now -pull your regular easy stroke; and we can readily beat them with that. -Things will come to a head very soon."</p> - -<p>The crew took the easy and graceful stroke indicated, but this produced -a greater speed than the Chesterfields could make with their utmost -exertion. Dory changed the course of the Winooski as she went ahead of -the Racer, so that she would gradually approach the enemy.</p> - -<p>In a few minutes it was evident that the Beech Hill boat would be in the -water of the other boats, and Wash Barker headed his craft farther to -the southward. This was just what Dory wanted him to do. He diminished -the speed of the Winooski still more, and continued to crowd into the -water of the Dasher until the latter was headed to the south, or out -into the rough sea.</p> - -<p>Wash Barker, who appeared to act as the commodore of the squadron,—Mad -Twinker, in the Racer following his lead,—could not help seeing the -result of these manœuvres, whether he comprehended their purpose or -not. The white-caps were before him, and he knew that his crew made bad -work in the waves. Already the Dasher was beginning to pitch, and the -spray to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> swash in over her stern. But it looked to him just then as -though, if he headed for the shore, the sharp bow of the Winooski would -cut his craft into two pieces.</p> - -<p>Wash tried several times to get out of the scrape, but the Beech Hill -boat looked like a streak of lightning to him, and he did not want it to -come any nearer to him. He was soon compelled to give it up as a bad -job: his pursuer would allow him to go only to the southward. But Wash -had brains if he didn't know much about handling a boat. The force of -the waves was increasing every length he went in the present direction.</p> - -<p>Dory heard him shout to Mad Twinker, but he could not understand what he -said. A moment later the Dasher began to head more to the eastward, the -Racer taking the same course. The commodore had evidently decided to get -about in the opposite direction. Dory followed him up closely till the -two barges were in the trough of the sea, and began to roll instead of -pitching as before. The rowers on the lee side, as the boats careened in -that direction, had their looms thrown out of the rowlocks. Some of them -went over backwards, and some of them, in their efforts to save -themselves, lost their oars overboard.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span></p><p>In a word, the crews of both the Chesterfield barges were in a fearful -snarl. The boats continued to roll in the heavy waves, and Dory thought -it not unlikely that his crew would be called upon to save the -collegiate gentlemen from being drowned. Of course it was nothing but -clumsiness which had reduced them to this extremity.</p> - -<p>The crew of the Winooski were in a position to see all that occurred to -the unfortunate barges; for Dory, as soon as he saw what Wash had -intended to do, had come about in the opposite way from that taken by -the other barges. When his boat was headed into the wind, he called upon -the crew to lay upon their oars.</p> - -<p>"That's a bad egg for them," said Life, chuckling at the misfortune of -the enemy.</p> - -<p>"There are three of their oars floating off into the lake," Phil Gawner -added.</p> - -<p>"Don't you think we had better go out and tow them in, Dory?" laughed -Ned Bellows.</p> - -<p>"Until they get overboard, we will continue to mind our own business; -but if they need help we must do all we can for them," replied the -coxswain. "While we are waiting we might as well run out and pick up -their oars."</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span></p><p>The orders were given to start again, and the Winooski dashed out into -the heavy waves. Dory discovered two more oars which had been lost by -the Racer. The two bowmen were directed to pick them up when they came -to them, and the five were quickly secured. They were stowed away under -the thwarts.</p> - -<p>By this time the Chesterfield barges were in condition to make another -effort to reach the shore, or to get into smooth water. Wash Barker was -yelling at his crew, and striving to bring order out of confusion. Mad -Twinker was doing the same in the Racer; though neither of them had any -brilliant success. But at last they got the remnant of their oars into -the water. Then it was found that the three oars had all been lost from -the starboard side of the Dasher, and Wash proceeded to bring about an -equilibrium in his propelling force.</p> - -<p>When the Winooski had picked up the oars, Dory took her to a position -between the barges and the shore. He did not regard the battle as ended; -in fact it had hardly begun, though the coxswain considered his tactics -a success thus far. After a great deal of loud talk on the part of the -coxswains, and a great deal of "talking back" on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> the part of the crews, -the Chesterfields were in condition to resume their effort to reach the -shore.</p> - -<p>Just as soon as the Dasher began to move through the water, Wash found -the sharp bow of the Winooski pointed towards his boat. He was afraid of -it, and he allowed himself to be crowded off his course precisely as he -had before. It took but a few minutes to put his boat into the trough of -the sea again, and she began to roll in a manner very trying to the -nerves of the inexperienced boatmen.</p> - -<p>The Chesterfields held on to their oars this time, though they stopped -rowing. But they did not stop rowing by order of the coxswain. In fact -there was a mutiny in the Dasher. The crew ceased to pull of their own -accord, and proceeded to pitch into the coxswain for getting them into a -scrape a second time. But Wash was a gentleman of energy and decision, -and in the matter of "jaw" he soon overcame his refractory crew, and got -his boat headed to the shore again.</p> - -<p>By this time he comprehended the tactics of the Beech Hill boat, and -realized that Dory's purpose was to drive him into the rough water. He -appeared to be in an angry frame of mind, and he cast savage glances at -the Winooski. Dory continued<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> to ply his strategy of crowding the Racer -off her course. But her coxswain had evidently decided not to be shoved -off again, though it looked as though the Winooski would dash into her -bow the next instant.</p> - -<p>"Halloo, Tinkers!" shouted Wash; "If you don't keep out of my way I'll -run into you."</p> - -<p>Dory made no reply to this threat, though it was uttered in a very -savage tone, as though the speaker meant all that he said. The Winooski -continued on her course towards the Dasher, her naked crew pulling their -steady stroke, but not one of them looking behind him to see when the -crash was coming.</p> - -<p>"Oars!" said the coxswain, in a low but very decided tone. "Hold water!"</p> - -<p>At the first command the oarsmen poised their blades at right angles -with the gunwale; at the second they dropped them into the water, -holding them in this position with a firm grasp. The effect was to check -the progress of the boat. But this did not stop the boat, as the -coxswain desired to do.</p> - -<p>"Stern all!" he added; and the crew began to pull backwards.</p> - -<p>A couple of strokes were all that were necessary<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> to overcome the -remaining headway of the barge, and she rested in the position Dory had -chosen for her. Wash Barker was evidently very nervous, though he saw -that the Winooski had come to a standstill. The stem of the latter was -pointed at her at an angle of forty-five degrees, but she was not -directly in the course of the Dasher. Wash thought he had space enough -to pass to the eastward of her, and perhaps he concluded that his threat -had been effective in stopping his rival.</p> - -<p>"Clap on that head bunter, Thad!" called Dory to the bowman.</p> - -<p>The article indicated was a kind of cushion covered with a network of -small rope. It was used when the boat was in danger of striking her stem -against any hard substance, as in boarding the steamer, or making a -landing at a wharf. Thad Glovering put the bunter in position; and the -call for it indicated to the crew that there was danger of a collision.</p> - -<p>The bunter had no significance to Wash, who believed he had won a -victory in bringing his opponent to a standstill. He kept his course, -and fully expected to pass clear of the Winooski. Dory watched the -Dasher with the utmost care,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> and it was plain enough that he intended -to do something.</p> - -<p>"You are doing first rate, fellows," said the coxswain, with his gaze -fixed upon the Dasher. "Now is the time to remember what you have -promised, and I want you to keep up the discipline clear to the handle."</p> - -<p>"We won't slip up the hundredth part of an inch, Dory," replied Phil -Gawner. "Propel!"</p> - -<p>"Ready! Give way!" called Dory, after a pause of a moment. "But only two -or three strokes!"</p> - -<p>The crew gave a few vigorous strokes in perfect time, and doubtless Wash -wondered what was coming next.</p> - -<p>"Oars!" said the coxswain, sharply. "Hold water!"</p> - -<p>The progress of the barge was checked when she was within ten feet of -the Racer. Then Dory ordered his crew to give way again. The stem of the -Winooski struck the bow of the Chesterfield barge.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER VII.</span> <span class="smaller">AN UNSATISFACTORY CONFERENCE ON THE WAVES.</span></h2> - -<p>There was no crash when the Winooski struck the Dasher, and Dory had -intended there should be none, or at least nothing more than a smart -rap. His crew anticipated something more than followed the contact of -the two boats.</p> - -<p>"Hold on, you Tinkers!" yelled Wash Barker, rising in his seat in the -stern-sheets of his boat. "You are running into us. You will smash our -boat all to pieces!"</p> - -<p>But the collision did not realize his fears, though his conduct caused -his crew to cease rowing. The Dasher was a couple of lengths astern of -the commodore's barge, and the instant the mighty official yelled they -all stopped pulling and looked behind them. The Winooskis felt the jar -of the stroke, but not one of them turned his head, as they might have -been excused for doing.</p> - -<p>"Give way, fellows!" called Dory, in an energetic command, to the -astonishment of his own<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> crew, and to the dismay of the coxswain of the -Dasher.</p> - -<p>But the crew of the Winooski obeyed the order, as they had promised to -do, whatever broke. The command was given at the instant the two boats -came together. The headway of the Dasher was checked, and the force with -which the Beech Hill boat advanced carried her head around.</p> - -<p>"Oars!" "Hold water!" "Stern all!" were the next commands of the -coxswain of the Winooski, after he had set the Dasher to whirling in the -waves.</p> - -<p>The Chesterfield boat turned half around, so that she faced to the -southward again. As soon as the Winooski had drawn back from her -opponent, the crew lay upon their oars, the coxswain waiting for the -issue of his last piece of strategy. He was evidently ready to do the -same thing again, and Wash Barker began to look discouraged. His crew -had held on to their oars when the boat was in the trough of the sea, -but they had pulled them out of the water, or were trailing them -alongside. At any rate they were in confusion, and the commodore could -not extricate them from the dilemma.</p> - -<p>Dory was patient, and his crew were in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> highest state of enjoyment -when they realized that the gentlemen from the collegiate institute were -completely "euchred." After a great deal of loud talking, and talking -back,—for every rower appeared to be a voluntary coxswain, the crew of -the Dasher got their oars into position in the water. They were ready to -pull again; but the commander of the fleet was in doubt and dismay. He -was headed for the open lake. His boats were pitching at a lively rate -in the waves.</p> - -<p>He could not go ahead, for that led him into the dashing sea. He could -not come about, for the Winooski was sure to give him another whirl, and -might smash his craft the next time. His crew were jawing and -gesticulating at him; one telling him to do this, and another to do -that. Dory gave his crew permission to witness the scene; and they could -not help realizing the benefit, not to say the blessing, of good -discipline. The bow of the Winooski was not more than a length from the -stern of the Dasher, and the bowman of the Racer had fastened his -boathook to the bow of her consort. The dismay of Mad Twinker in the -other boat seemed to be as deep as that of his fellow officer, and he -had no counsel to give.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span></p><p>There was a multitude of counsellors in the Dasher. Several of them -advised the coxswain to run into the Winooski, and about all that could -be heard in the snarl wanted to smash her. Wash Barker had brains, and -he seemed to be aware that he could do nothing of the sort, for the -reason that the cool coxswain of the enemy would not let him.</p> - -<p>"I say, Tinkers!" shouted Wash, who had evidently concluded what to do.</p> - -<p>Dory was as dignified as George Washington when his title was ignored, -and he refused to answer while he and his companions were called by an -offensive name. Wash hailed several times in the same strain without -getting a reply. His crew seemed to be tired of yelling at him, and -there was a silence in the barge after the coxswain had called a dozen -times to his opponent.</p> - -<p>"Winooski, ahoy!" shouted some one in the boat, who had perhaps learned -from some sea novel how to hail another craft.</p> - -<p>"On board the Dasher!" replied Dory.</p> - -<p>"Are you all deaf there?" demanded Wash Barker angrily, when he -discovered that his opponent had the power of speech; "I have been -yelling at you for half an hour."</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span></p><p>"We don't answer to the name of Tinkers, Greasers, Chip-makers, or -anything of that sort," returned the coxswain of the Winooski.</p> - -<p>"Oh, you don't!" sneered Wash, when Dory had, with a couple of strokes -of the oars, placed the stern of the barge within a few feet of that of -the Racer.</p> - -<p>"We do not. You have our clothes in your boat, and I will trouble you to -return them to us," added Dory.</p> - -<p>"Don't give them up!" yelled a fellow in the bow of the Dasher.</p> - -<p>"No, no!" shouted half a dozen others; "don't give them up!"</p> - -<p>This looked like war, and things had a stormy aspect ahead. But Dory -decided to pay no attention to anyone but the officer of the boat.</p> - -<p>"Hold on to the clothes!" shouted the students in the Racer, when they -understood what was going on.</p> - -<p>The commodore of the squadron was thus fully informed in regard to the -state of feeling in both his boats. Whatever his own view, he seemed to -be unable to stand up against his companions.</p> - -<p>"Our clothes were taken from the shore while we were in the water, and, -as we need them very<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> much, I will thank you to return them," continued -Dory, repeating his request in what some of his crew considered a very -"gingerly" tone.</p> - -<p>"Don't give them up!" yelled a crowd from both boats.</p> - -<p>"You can hear what our fellows say to your request," replied Wash in a -more pliable manner than he had yet assumed.</p> - -<p>"I speak to you as the coxswain in charge of the boat, and I am waiting -for your reply," added Dory. "The clothes belong to us, and I think you -can have no doubt that they ought to be returned to the owners."</p> - -<p>"Why don't you talk up to him, Wash?" shouted a student in the bow of -the Dasher.</p> - -<p>"We can't all talk at once, and you fellows keep up such a jaw that I -can't get in a word edgeways," retorted the coxswain of the Dasher -petulantly, for he evidently felt the force of Dory's hint that he ought -to speak for his crew. "If I am to be the coxswain of the boat, I don't -want every fellow to interfere with me, and take the words out of my -mouth."</p> - -<p>"You have got us into scrapes enough for one day," replied a rebellious -oarsman in the middle of the boat.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span></p><p>"You want to crawl out like a lame chicken!" exclaimed another.</p> - -<p>"I was elected coxswain; but you won't obey orders, or even treat me -decently," answered Wash. "I have had enough of it, and I resign my -office, to take effect at the present moment."</p> - -<p>"You might as well! You don't know anything more about a boat than the -rest of us," added one of the crew.</p> - -<p>"I have nothing more to say," answered Wash Barker, with some show of -dignity, as he left his seat at the tiller lines, and took another -place. "Every fellow wants to be coxswain except me, and you may do what -you please now."</p> - -<p>Dory began to feel a higher degree of respect for the coxswain of the -Dasher, and so did the rest of the crew of the Winooski. The Beech Hill -boys were greatly interested in the dissensions among their opponents, -and they could not help contrasting their own splendid discipline with -that of the Chesterfields.</p> - -<p>"Will you oblige me with the name of the coxswain of the other boat?" -asked Dory, addressing the retired officer of the Dasher.</p> - -<p>"His name is Madison Twinker, but we all call him Mad," replied Wash -Barker.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span></p><p>"What did you tell him for, Wash?" yelled one of the gentlemanly -students of the Chesterfield Collegiate Institute.</p> - -<p>"I know how to answer a civil question," replied the late coxswain, as -he settled down in his seat, and turned his back to his crew.</p> - -<p>Dory directed his crew to pull a few strokes and thus enable him to -secure a position within talking distance of the coxswain of the Racer.</p> - -<p>Before he could speak to Mad Twinker, the members of his crew began to -shout at him, telling him not to give up the clothes. The discipline in -this boat was no better than in the other. Dory repeated his request to -the remaining coxswain of the squadron.</p> - -<p>"Don't give up the clothes!" yelled the crew.</p> - -<p>"If you fellows are going to do the talking I have nothing to say, and I -shall follow the example of Wash Barker," added Mad Twinker; and he -plainly sympathized with his fellow coxswain who had resigned.</p> - -<p>The Chesterfields did not like this answer, and they looked at one -another with something like dismay on their faces.</p> - -<p>"Go ahead, Mad! We won't say another word," said the stroke oarsman. The -others<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> made no promises, but for the time they were silent.</p> - -<p>"I am waiting for your answer, Mr. Twinker," said Dory, when he thought -it was time for the officer of the Racer to speak.</p> - -<p>"Suppose I decline to return them," replied Mad, who found it necessary -to say something, though it was clear that he had not decided what to -say. "What then?"</p> - -<p>"I don't care to consider any question but the return of the clothes," -replied Dory.</p> - -<p>"Our fellows are not ready to return your clothes, after the insults you -have heaped upon us," answered Mad Twinker; and this answer was followed -by a clapping of hands.</p> - -<p>"Am I to understand that you refuse to return our property?" asked Dory -gently but forcibly.</p> - -<p>"We will compromise the matter if you like," suggested Mad Twinker, who -did not like the cool manner of the coxswain of the Winooski. "If you -will apologize for the insults heaped upon us, we will return the -garments in as good condition as when they were taken."</p> - -<p>"I am not aware that we have insulted you in a single instance, to say -nothing of heaping insults upon you," replied Dory.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span></p><p>"We spoke to you twenty times, and you refused to answer us, or take -the slightest notice of us," answered Mad, with energy, as though he -believed he had made a valid charge; and he even got up a little -indignation to go with it. "We invited you to race with us, and you -would not deign to make any reply. We think we are entitled to a civil -answer when we ask a question."</p> - -<p>"Certainly you are when you ask a civil question; but every time you -spoke to us you addressed us as 'Tinkers,' 'Greasers,' 'Chip-makers,' or -some such insulting epithet. When we were insulted we simply maintained -silence," answered Dory.</p> - -<p>"Are you not Tinkers, Chip-makers, and Machine-greasers?" demanded Mad -Twinker.</p> - -<p>"Whatever we are, these names were applied to us as terms of reproach, -and were insulting."</p> - -<p>"We don't see it."</p> - -<p>The Chesterfields clapped their hands again, as they had when the -coxswain proposed the compromise. Just then the Gildrock was discovered -pulling rapidly towards the scene.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER VIII.</span> <span class="smaller">THE CHESTERFIELDS SURRENDER THEIR BANNERS.</span></h2> - -<p>Commodore Mad Twinker did not seem to have much confidence in the -position he had taken. He felt that he had been beaten in the argument, -but in the face of his crew he could not abandon the ground he had -taken. Of course he knew that the Chesterfields had no right to retain -the garments they had brought from the shore; but it seemed to be quite -impossible to "give in" to the Beech Hill party, and acknowledge that it -was wrong to apply epithets to them.</p> - -<p>"The Gildrock is coming, Dory," said Life Windham, in a low tone, for -the coxswain had not observed the approach of his consort.</p> - -<p>Dory cast a glance in the direction from which the other barge was -coming. She had apparently just made her way out of Sandy Beach Cove, -and the crew were pulling a quick stroke, as though they thought -something was the matter with the Winooski. The plucky coxswain was not -<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span>particularly pleased at the prospect of a re-enforcement; for, though -Matt Randolph was a splendid fellow, he feared that he might be more -inclined to fight than to compromise.</p> - -<p>But if Dory intended to recover the clothing of his crew, the present -situation looked more like a fight than a compromise. The Chesterfields -refused to admit that the reproachful epithets were insulting, and -demanded an apology for his neglect to answer the challenge to race with -them. The coxswain, fearful that he might appear to be too stiff, went -over the matter again.</p> - -<p>"When we came near you we gave you a complimentary salute," added Dory.</p> - -<p>"A complimentary salute!" exclaimed Mad Twinker. "When was that, and -what was it?"</p> - -<p>"We tossed oars."</p> - -<p>"Tossed oars? Where did you toss them?" asked the commodore; and it was -plain enough now that the Chesterfields did not understand the -manœuvre.</p> - -<p>"We raised them to a perpendicular; and this is the highest honor one -boat can pay to another. We should not have tossed oars to you if we had -intended to insult you," replied Dory with spirit.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span></p><p>"Do you call that showing off a complimentary salute?" demanded Mad, -with a sneer. "It's no use to talk any more about it: when you make the -apology for insulting us we will give up the clothes."</p> - -<p>The crews of both the Chesterfield boats applauded. The wind appeared to -be freshening, or it had driven the boats farther out into the lake, -where they felt it more. At any rate Mad's last remark indicated a -desire to end the conference on the waves.</p> - -<p>"I hope there will be no trouble," said Dory, as he glanced at the -Gildrock again, though she was still a mile from the scene.</p> - -<p>"There will be no talk at any rate," replied Mad. "We are going ashore -now, and we will see you on the land if you like."</p> - -<p>"You will not go ashore until you have given up those clothes," added -Dory firmly.</p> - -<p>"I'm not going to fool with you, as Wash did, and if you don't get out -of our way we will sink you!" exclaimed the new commodore.</p> - -<p>"I think you will have to understand a little more about handling a boat -than you do now, before you can do that," replied Dory quietly, as he -backed the Winooski a little way from the Racer.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span></p><p>With some difficulty Mad got his boat about so that it was headed to -the shore, and the Dasher, with Jeff Monroe acting as coxswain, was -trying to follow her example. The waves were very rude, and it looked as -though the latter would be swamped before she got about. As soon as Dory -saw that the Dasher had accomplished the feat, he repeated his former -manœuvre, shoving the bow of the barge entirely around, in spite of -all the efforts of her crew to prevent it.</p> - -<p>Mad Twinker ordered his oarsmen to beat off the assailants with their -oars; but the moment the boat got into the trough of the sea, the bow -oarsmen were utterly unable to stand up. In swinging around, the -Winooski brought up against the side of the Racer, and two of the -latter's oars were snapped in twain in the collision. But Dory drew back -before any further damage was done, though the Chesterfield boat had -only seven oars left.</p> - -<p>By this time the Racer had nearly come about, and Dory gave her a shove -which sent her back to her former position in the trough of the sea. Mad -Twinker was downright mad in fact, as well as in name, when he found -himself beaten. But the Winooski kept out of his reach, and he was -utterly powerless. Her coxswain did not have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> the least difficulty in -swinging her around as he wished, in the smart sea.</p> - -<p>The wind was blowing the boats farther out into the lake every moment, -and the white-caps had a terrific aspect to the inexperienced boatmen. -Mad brought his barge about again. Placing one of his oarless crew at -the tiller lines, he crawled forward himself, and took a position in the -bow. Arming himself with the boathook he directed his rowers to give -way.</p> - -<p>This time Dory did not wait till the Racer was headed to the shore, but -darted upon her just as she came out of the trough of the sea. He called -to Thad Glovering to boat his oar, and look out for his head, for Mad -evidently intended to hit anyone who came within reach of his weapon.</p> - -<p>"Oars!" shouted Dory with energy. "Stern all!"</p> - -<p>But in spite of his care he struck the Racer harder than he intended, -and a lively snapping of cedar boards was heard. The sound created a -panic among the crew; they all stopped rowing, and looked behind them to -see what had happened. About three feet of the bow of the boat was stove -in, and the water was pouring in through the break.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span></p><p>"There! Do you see what you have done?" yelled Mad Twinker, appalled at -the disaster to the Dasher.</p> - -<p>"Will you give up those clothes, or will you take another rap?" called -Dory sharply.</p> - -<p>"Another rap! Do you mean to drown us all?" cried Mad.</p> - -<p>"I mean to have our clothes!" answered Dory.</p> - -<p>"Let them have the clothes!" yelled one of the terrified crew.</p> - -<p>"Let them have them! We can't do anything more," added another.</p> - -<p>Mad said nothing more, but he picked up such of the clothes as were -within his reach, and held them out in the direction of the Winooski. -His crew followed his example, and Dory ran the barge near enough to -receive them.</p> - -<p>"That's all there are in this boat," said Mad Twinker.</p> - -<p>"If you all move a little farther aft, the water won't run into your -boat," said Dory in a quiet tone. "Here are five oars that belong to -your boats. I have no further business with you to-day, unless we find -some of our clothes are missing; and we wish you good evening."</p> - -<p>"We shall have further business with you, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> you won't see the end of -this affair for one while," growled Mad Twinker, as he crawled to the -stern-sheets of his barge.</p> - -<p>While this scene was transpiring, the Dasher had succeeded in getting -about, and her crew were pulling for the shore, though they lay upon -their oars when they saw the catastrophe to her consort. Dory followed -the other barge without any delay, and was soon in position to "ram" the -bow, as he had that of the Racer; but the Dashers decided not to be -wrecked, as their consort had been. Jeff Monroe shouted that they would -give up the clothes and they were delivered. The Winooski went to the -shore, and the crew clothed themselves. None of the clothes were -missing, and the coxswain was glad he had no further demand to make upon -the Chesterfields. Before the boys were half clothed the Gildrock joined -them.</p> - -<p>"What in the world have you fellows been about?" asked Matt Randolph. -"We thought you were in a row out there with the Chesterfields, and we -were hurrying up to help you out."</p> - -<p>"We were in a row, and we have smashed in the bow of one of their -boats," replied Dory. "Our fellows have behaved first-rate, and I think -we have come out of the scrape with clean hands."</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span></p><p>"Not if you have smashed one of their boats," added Matt seriously.</p> - -<p>"Captain Gildrock must settle that question; and I suppose Colonel -Buckmill will have something to say about it," answered Dory, as he -proceeded to relate in detail what had happened at Sandy Beach.</p> - -<p>The event was discussed with no little excitement for a considerable -time. Beech Hill was very indignant at the conduct of the Chesterfields, -and heartily delighted that they had been beaten in the end. But all -felt, as Mad Twinker had suggested, that they had not seen the end of -the affair yet, and it was voted that a state of war existed between the -two institutions on opposite sides of the lake; and perhaps it was a -happy circumstance that four miles of fresh water lay between them.</p> - -<p>"I say, Dory, I don't quite understand how it was that you beat us so -awfully in that little scrub race we had," said the coxswain of the -Gildrock. "I was sure we could whip you every time when we came out of -the river."</p> - -<p>"I knew that you had been giving your crew a little private training," -replied Dory, laughing, as they walked down to the barges. "I know just<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> -why you were beaten; and I think you had better wait till you get out of -the woods before you do any crowing next time. The three cheers you gave -were rather cutting to our fellows."</p> - -<p>"I was confident we could pass you every time; and your crew were taking -it very easy. We gave the cheers to stir you up, and give us a chance to -beat you when you were doing your best," Matt explained. "But how did -you give us such an awful waxing?"</p> - -<p>"Simply by minding our own business: that's all I know about it. Our -fellows row first-rate, and they are in splendid discipline. Your crew -got demoralized when they saw us gaining on them, and they couldn't do -anything more. It was as easy to beat them then as it is to go to sleep -when you can't keep awake."</p> - -<p>Matt did not understand the cause of his defeat much better than before. -He said he had been training his crew, and trying to find out what the -matter was.</p> - -<p>The barges returned to Beech Hill, and after they were secured, there -was nothing talked about but the encounter with the Chesterfields. As in -duty bound, Dory reported the affair, with full details, to the -principal.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span></p><p>"I am afraid this is rather serious business, Dory," said Captain -Gildrock. "It looks like a standing quarrel between our school and the -Institute, and it may lead to disagreeable consequences. Of course the -students on the other side will have their own story to tell, and -probably I shall hear from Colonel Buckmill, who will claim damages for -the injury done the barge."</p> - -<p>"We had to recover our clothes, or come home without our shirts," -pleaded Dory.</p> - -<p>"I have no doubt you have told the story correctly as you understand it, -but almost always there are two sides to any story. You appear to have -acted with prudence and forbearance, and I have no fault to find with -you," added Captain Gildrock. "We will wait and see what comes of the -affair."</p> - -<p>It may as well be said here that nothing came of it, and Colonel -Buckmill was not informed in regard to the collision. The Racer was -rowed to Westport that evening, and the next morning she had been -repaired, and was in as good condition as ever. But the Chesterfields -nursed their wrath, and vowed vengeance for the humiliation to which -they had been subjected.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER IX.</span> <span class="smaller">A REBELLION IN THE SCHOOLROOM.</span></h2> - -<p>After breakfast on the following morning the students were provided with -the new uniform, if so simple a suit could be dignified by such a title. -It consisted of a sack, pants, and vest of blue flannel, and a cap on -which was a monogram of the letters B. H. I. S. The buttons on the coat -and cap were plain and nickel-plated, as was the monogram. It was a very -neat dress, and most of the boys were pleased with it.</p> - -<p>"Where is your uniform, Life?" asked Dory of the strike oarsman of the -Winooski, as they were about to enter the school and shop building.</p> - -<p>"I don't intend to wear any uniform," replied Life Windham. "I am not a -monkey, a soldier, or a policeman."</p> - -<p>"As the rest of us are neither soldiers nor policemen, I suppose you -regard us as monkeys," added Dory, laughing.</p> - -<p>"I don't say that you are monkeys, only that you are dressed like -monkeys," replied Life.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span></p><p>"I think you are making a mistake, and I hope you will consider well -what you are about," continued Dory seriously. "My uncle pays for the -clothes of all the students, and it seems to me he ought to be allowed -to say what the garments should be."</p> - -<p>"If Captain Gildrock wanted you to go about town with a chapeau on your -head, should you be willing to do it?" demanded Life, with considerable -vim in his tones.</p> - -<p>"But he don't ask you to wear a chapeau, or even a soldier's cap. You -argue against something that is ridiculous, instead of the actual -thing," returned Dory warmly. "It is a common cap, just such a one as -you wore when you came to Beech Hill, only there are four letters on -it."</p> - -<p>"It is a uniform, any way, and we are all to be punished because two -fellows drank beer in a saloon," persisted Life.</p> - -<p>"There is no punishment about it."</p> - -<p>"Didn't Captain Gildrock say we were to wear a uniform because two of -the fellows drank beer?" demanded Life.</p> - -<p>"No, he did not!" protested Dory. "He said he did not believe the -fellows would have drank the beer if they had worn the uniform of the -school."</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span></p><p>"Why not? Because they would be afraid of being found out?" sneered -Life.</p> - -<p>"Not at all. Didn't he say that he expected the fellows to have a proper -regard for the honor and credit of the school? He thinks that respect -for the institution would prevent the fellows from doing anything out of -the way. The uniform would keep the fact that they are members -constantly in their minds. In Boston all the pupils of the high schools -wear a uniform cap."</p> - -<p>"I don't see it in that light, and I look upon wearing a uniform as a -punishment, served out to the innocent as well as the guilty."</p> - -<p>"If I were you I should go and put the uniform on, and then carry my -grievance to the principal," added Dory, sorry that the stroke oarsman -of the boat should get himself into trouble for nothing at all.</p> - -<p>"We argued the matter yesterday. I am not the only fellow who won't wear -the uniform. There are eight of us, and we had a meeting this morning," -replied Life, "and not one of them will put on monkey rigging."</p> - -<p>"You are making a bad mistake, Life. Not a word was said yesterday about -punishment, and I am sure my uncle will set matters right if you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> only -obey orders. If you stand out, he won't say a word to comfort you. Put -on the uniform, go to him this morning, and say that you object to -wearing it, for you look upon it as a punishment, served out to the -innocent as well as the guilty," reasoned Dory.</p> - -<p>"We said all we had to say yesterday," replied Life; and he joined -several others not in uniform as they went into the building.</p> - -<p>In the schoolroom Dory had a chance to see who the rebels were, for all -the others wore the uniform, while the objectors had on the garments in -which they had come to the school. There were four from the first class, -and four from the second. Besides Life Windham, of his own crew, he -found Phil Gawner, Lick Milton, and Tom Ridley. He was sorry he had not -known who the rebels were before, for he thought he could have -influenced them in the right direction. Ben Ludlow, who had had the most -to say against the uniform the day before, wore the prescribed costume.</p> - -<p>Eight out of twenty-six were nearly one third of the whole school. He -wished he could have a chance to talk the subject over with the other -rebels in his crew before they were called to order<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> in the schoolroom, -for Captain Gildrock was a thorough disciplinarian. He would yield a -great deal to respectful remonstrance, but not a hair to rebellion. If -the eight rebels took a decided stand, the principal would regard it as -a case of disobedience, and treat it accordingly.</p> - -<p>But there was no time to argue the matter, and hardly a word had been -said about it among the crews of the barges. The rebels had preferred to -confine their discussion to their own number, instead of getting the -views and feelings of the other members of the school.</p> - -<p>Every pupil had a single desk in the schoolroom, which contained his -books and other property. Each one took his place, and the roll was -called by Miss Fatima Millweed, who was the clerk of the institution. -All answered to their names. Most of those who wore the uniform did not -seem to know that there was a rebellion in progress, and they looked -with some astonishment at their companions in plain clothes.</p> - -<p>The principal had not yet come in, and as he had announced other -business for the opening of the session, the instructors waited for him. -But the captain was a methodical and punctual man, and the roll-call was -hardly finished before he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> made his appearance upon the platform. He had -a roll of papers in his hand, and seemed to be thinking of the business -of the moment. He proceeded to unroll his papers, without bestowing any -attention upon the new uniform, for he had noticed and commented upon it -before school time.</p> - -<p>"Now, boys, I have something to say about the plans for the new -boat-house and hall for recreation," the principal began, as he took his -place at the desk on the platform. "The idea does not include merely the -building, but a wharf for the Sylph, docks for the barges, and the -location and general arrangement of the building and grounds. For the -best plan of the building the prize will be fifty dollars. The same -amount will be given for the best location and method of constructing -the wharf and arranging the grounds of the new structure."</p> - -<p>"Architecture and civil engineering," suggested Bolingbroke Millweed, -deeply interested in the business of the occasion.</p> - -<p>"Precisely so, only we shall not meddle much with ornamental -architecture," replied Captain Gildrock, looking over the pupils to -observe the impression the announcement of the prize made upon them.</p> - -<p>Then he suddenly suspended his remarks, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> stepped out to the side of -the desk. For a moment he looked the boys over, as though his thoughts -had taken a new turn. He left his papers on the desk, as though he had -abandoned the subject of the building.</p> - -<p>"I think I directed that the new uniform should be put on this morning," -said the principal, after a considerable pause. "I see that most of you -wear it, and I suppose the others could not find suits that would fit -them. Mr. Sheers was to be here to assist in fitting you. Wasn't he -here, Shoreham?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, sir; he was here, and he selected a uniform that he said would fit -me," replied Lew.</p> - -<p>"But you have not put it on?"</p> - -<p>"No, sir."</p> - -<p>"I see there are several others who have not put on the uniform," -continued the principal; and he proceeded to call the names of those in -plain clothes. "If any one of you did not find a uniform that would fit -him, he will signify it."</p> - -<p>No one raised a hand or spoke a word, and it was evident that there was -no trouble at all about fitting the garments.</p> - -<p>"Shoreham, why have you not put on your uniform?" demanded the -principal, rather sternly.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span></p><p>"I have decided not to wear a uniform," replied Lew, in an entirely -respectful tone.</p> - -<p>"You have decided not to wear a uniform," repeated Captain Gildrock. -"Cornwall, I see that you are in plain clothes."</p> - -<p>"I have also decided not to wear a uniform," answered Bart.</p> - -<p>"There appears to be several of you who made the same decision," added -Captain Gildrock.</p> - -<p>"Eight of us, sir," said Bob Swanton.</p> - -<p>"I wish to say, Captain Gildrock, that we do so with entire respect to -you, sir," added Lew Shoreham.</p> - -<p>"With entire respect to me, you intend to disobey my orders," said the -principal, with a smile.</p> - -<p>"We have agreed that not a disrespectful word shall be spoken to you, -sir," continued Lew, who had apparently been appointed the spokesman for -the rebellion.</p> - -<p>"In other words, you intend to do wrong in a gentlemanly way, which is -perhaps better than doing it in an ungentlemanly way," added the -principal.</p> - -<p>"I desire to give the reasons why we decline to wear a uniform," said -Lew Shoreham, rising from his chair as though he intended to make a -speech<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> of some length; and perhaps he could do it better than any other -student in the school.</p> - -<p>"I decline to hear the reasons—I respectfully decline. After I have -given an order I don't argue the matter," replied Captain Gildrock.</p> - -<p>"But we wish—"</p> - -<p>"While you stand in the attitude of disobedience, you must excuse me -from listening to what you wish, Shoreham. Those who have decided not to -wear the uniform of the Beech Hill Industrial School may stand."</p> - -<p>The eight rebels rose from their seats, and stood by the side of their -desks. They held their heads up as though they meant to be manly and -independent, and no doubt they felt so.</p> - -<p>"I don't think you are quite fair, Captain Gildrock, not to hear what—"</p> - -<p>"You are entitled to your own opinion. The eight boys who have decided -not to wear the uniform will go to their rooms, and each remain in his -own apartment until further orders," continued Captain Gildrock, in a -very mild but decidedly firm tone.</p> - -<p>"I wish to say—" Lew Shoreham began.</p> - -<p>"You will say nothing!" interposed the principal, in a very stern voice. -"Go to your rooms,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> and stay in them till you have permission to leave -them."</p> - -<p>Lew Shoreham was extremely anxious to argue the question, and to do so -before the school. Physically he was rather clumsy, and was not likely -to distinguish himself in athletic sports; but he was a good speaker for -a boy, and a bit of a lawyer besides. Doubtless he and his companions -thought they were grossly abused in not being allowed to argue the -question of obedience. The rebels retired from the schoolroom, and the -principal picked up his papers.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER X.</span> <span class="smaller">IMPORTANT TO BOY ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS.</span></h2> - -<p>The principal said a few words to Mr. Darlingby, one of the instructors, -as soon as all the rebels had left the schoolroom. The teacher followed -the eight boys who had decided not to wear a uniform to the dormitory. -He sad nothing, but merely saw that the rebels went to their rooms, as -they had been directed. He then called Bates, the old sailor who had -been quartermaster and mate under Captain Gildrock for may years, who -did any kind of duty at Beech Hill required of him, from running the -steamer down to blacking the principal's boots.</p> - -<p>The old seaman always obeyed orders, and never asked any questions or -made any speeches. Mr. Darlingby stationed him in the hall of the -dormitory, and directed him not allow any of the eight boys to leave the -building, or more than one of them to come out of his room at a time. -Bates knew what discipline was, for he had been <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span>thoroughly trained by -his employer. The instructor returned to the schoolroom, and reported -the orders executed.</p> - -<p>After the rebels had departed from the room, Captain Gildrock made no -allusion whatever to them. He pointed no moral for the benefit of the -rest of the students, and did not seem to be in the least degree -disturbed by the event of the morning. He picked up his papers, and went -on with his announcements as though nothing had occurred to interrupt -them.</p> - -<p>"You have had valuable instruction in drawing from Mr. Jepson," -continued Captain Gildrock; "but you have not yet had a great deal of -practice. Of course I don't expect finished drawings from you, and the -nicety of the work will not affect the result. All the plans must be -drawn by scale, and must be intelligible, but the prizes are to be given -for the ideas, and not for the artistic finish of the plans."</p> - -<p>"On what scale must the plans be drawn?" asked Luke Bennington.</p> - -<p>"Mr. Jepson must answer that question."</p> - -<p>"A quarter of an inch to the foot," added Mr. Jepson, the master -machinist and instructor in drawing.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span></p><p>"Do you all understand what rooms and closets we want in the -boat-house? That is what the new building will be called," continued the -principal. "I think you had better make a list of these things, so that -you won't forget anything."</p> - -<p>"Are the sailboats to be provided for in the building?" asked George -Duane.</p> - -<p>"Certainly not; it would take too high a building to cover the topmast -of the Gold wing," replied the principal. "The safest place for the -sailboats is at their moorings in the lake."</p> - -<p>"I don't quite understand how the two barges are to be accommodated -under cover," suggested Harry Franklin.</p> - -<p>"There must be two slips, or docks for them, at least fifty-four feet -long by eight or nine feet wide, with doors at the water end of them, so -that the boats can be locked in. I shall say no more about the docks; -but you can put them down at the head of your list. Then we want about -forty dressing-rooms, for we must provide for the future as well as the -present. They must be at least three feet square and light enough to -enable the occupant to see what he is about."</p> - -<p>"But where are these dressing-rooms to be located?" inquired Dave -Winslow.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span></p><p>"You must answer that question for yourselves; and of course the value -of the plan will depend upon the convenience and fitness of the -apartments. Add dressing-rooms to the list. Then we want as many as four -store-rooms, one for a sail-room, one for a paint-shop, and two for boat -furniture."</p> - -<p>"What must be the size of these rooms?" asked John Brattle.</p> - -<p>"You know what these rooms are for, and you may determine the size of -them for yourselves," replied Captain Gildrock. "I desire to measure -each student's judgment in the decision of just such questions as this, -and I shall leave a great many of them open for this purpose."</p> - -<p>The boys looked at each other, and thought that whoever got the prizes -would earn them, for it would take no end of hard thinking to make the -plans.</p> - -<p>"The next requirement is the hall for meetings, which will be on the -second story," continued the principal, as the students added the -apartment to their list. "The size and proportions will be left to your -own judgment, but I will add that you may want to use this hall in the -winter for exhibitions of declamation, dialogues, and concerts,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> to -which the people of Genverres may be invited. I give you the uses to -which the hall may be put, and it is for you to determine how large it -should be."</p> - -<p>"Are we to make it big enough to accommodate the whole town?" inquired -Corny Minkfield.</p> - -<p>"You must judge for yourself how many people the hall ought to hold; for -I have no clearer idea of the matter than you have, and I have no plan -for the winter entertainments," answered Captain Gildrock. "If there are -any exhibitions at all, they will be given at your request, and not at -my desire."</p> - -<p>"Are we to decide now whether we will have exhibitions or not?" Steve -Baxter wanted to know.</p> - -<p>"You are to decide for yourselves whether or not a large hall is likely -to be needed. I have nothing more to say on this subject. I have now -given you the essential points in the new building. In the matter of -halls, corridors, entrances, I shall say nothing. You need not confine -yourselves to the essentials I have mentioned. If you can add any -apartments that are worth having, you are at liberty to do so, and the -value of any such additions or improvements will be carried to your<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> -credit on the total fitness of the plan. I hold the comfort and -recreation of the pupils of the school to be entitled to consideration -as well as usefulness in the narrower sense. I have said all I have to -say in regard to the boat-house, and after this I shall answer no -questions."</p> - -<p>"Are the dressing-rooms to be on the lower story or the upper?" inquired -Matt Randolph.</p> - -<p>"They will be just where you choose to put them," answered the -principal. "That is a question of convenience which each must decide for -himself."</p> - -<p>"But we have the two docks for the boats, the forty dressing-rooms, the -four store-rooms, and the corridors and entries to put on the lower -story, with nothing but the hall on the second floor," persisted Matt.</p> - -<p>"I did not stipulate that any of the apartments you mention should be on -the lower floor," said the principal, laughing. "If you think it best to -put the two docks for the barges on the second floor, of course you have -a perfect right to do so."</p> - -<p>"A boat is a good thing to have, but it isn't particularly valuable on -the top of a mountain for sailing purposes, and I should rather have it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> -where there is a body of water," persisted Matt. "The docks will take up -about fifteen hundred square feet, and that is space enough for a hall -that will hold one hundred and fifty or two hundred people. It seems to -me that the parts don't balance well."</p> - -<p>"It is for you to balance them, then. I have given you the essentials of -the boat-house, and I leave all the rest of it to you," replied Captain -Gildrock. "If you please, Randolph, we will not argue the matter, for -you are giving your associates points that I wish them to study out for -themselves. Now we will consider the location and the engineering work."</p> - -<p>"I don't see why these are put together," said Oscar Chester.</p> - -<p>"Because they are very closely connected," answered Captain Gildrock. -"If one of you decides that the boat-house ought to be built in the -middle of the lake, he ought to tell us how the foundation is to be -laid, and how we are to reach it."</p> - -<p>"I see; and I understand it now," added Oscar.</p> - -<p>"The location of the building, and of the wharf for the steamer or other -craft we may have,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> are included in the offer. The same student may -compete for both prizes, and plan both the building and the location. If -you locate the wharf where it cannot be conveniently reached by the -Sylph or the Goldwing, the site selected would have to be rejected."</p> - -<p>"But perhaps the plan of the fellow who wins the prize for the -boat-house may not fit the location that gets the prize," suggested -Oscar Chester, who seemed to be taking the deepest interest in the -subject, though he had been the hardest boy in the whole before his -admission to the school.</p> - -<p>"I have considered that difficulty, and the two plans which are the best -on the whole will be modified to adapt them to each other. Now, we will -see the map, Mr. Jepson," said the principal. The instructor in drawing -unrolled a chart on the wall behind the principal, and it proved to be -Beech Hill Lake, drawn after the manner of the chart of Lake Champlain, -with the compass, soundings, and character of the bottom upon it.</p> - -<p>"This chart will be available for the inspection of all the students. It -shows Beech Hill Lake, which is about eighty rods long by forty wide. It -is simply an enlargement or basin of Meadow<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> Creek. I own the land on -both sides of it down to Lake Champlain, and therefore we can do what we -please with it, even if we fill it up. When you locate the wharf you -must indicate how it is to be built, and how it is to be reached both on -the land and the water side."</p> - -<p>"I suppose there is only one way to build a wharf, and that is by -driving piles," said Harry Franklin.</p> - -<p>"The wharf may be of wood or of stone. If you look at the chart, -Franklin, you will see that the bottom on this side of the lake is -composed of rocks, into which no piles can be driven. Our present wharf -was built like a log house, by piling logs one upon another, and filling -in with earth. But the timbers are rotting, and it will soon need to be -rebuilt, and I don't care to have another of that kind. On the other -side of the lake the bottom is mud, brought in by the creek. That is all -we need say about the wharf and location."</p> - -<p>But half a dozen of the boys who had ideas on the subject before the -school proceeded to ask questions, which the principal declined to -answer.</p> - -<p>"The season is advancing, and I wish to have this building up and -covered in before the cold weather comes, and we want these plans at -once,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> continued the principal, after he had quieted the inquirers. -"After consultation with the instructors, I have decided to give you -three days vacation, at the end of which time the prizes will be -awarded. These three days are given you to study the subject and draw -the plans."</p> - -<p>"That is a short time," said Matt Randolph.</p> - -<p>"But it is just as much for one as for another. You must do the best you -can in that time. Fifty dollars is a considerable sum for a boy to have; -and I must say now that the winner will not be allowed to fool it away. -If they have no immediate use for it, the money will be placed to their -credit in the Genverres Savings Bank; but it may be used at once for any -proper purpose."</p> - -<p>The students wondered, as they left the schoolroom, if the vacation had -not been given on account of the rebellion. But all of them hastened to -the lake to look for a site for the boat-house.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER XI.</span> <span class="smaller">DORY DORNWOOD CONFRONTS THE TOPOVERS.</span></h2> - -<p>Several groups of the students had formed on the banks of Beech Hill -Lake, and were discussing the plans when the school-bell rang. They -obeyed the summons, and began to think this was a queer sort of a -vacation, when the principal informed them that he had forgotten -something. Seeing them talking together at the lake had reminded him of -the omission.</p> - -<p>"I must exact a promise from each student that the plan he offers is -wholly his own work," said Captain Gildrock. "There must be no -conversation, conference, or comparison among you, and no student must -show his plan to another, or tell another what it is. All of you who -assent to this, and make this promise, will signify it by standing."</p> - -<p>All the boys rose and remained standing. Some of them asked a lot of -questions as usual, but in a few minutes the whole matter was perfectly -understood.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span></p><p>"Under these conditions we shall have to stay in our rooms all the -time," said Dave Windsor; and the remark created a laugh, for it looked -as though the competitors for the prizes were to be prisoners as well as -the rebels.</p> - -<p>"You can do your work where you please. The schoolroom, the workshop, -the grove, are open to you, as well as your rooms," replied the -principal. "I consider that each pupil is put on honor not to look at -the work of another. Before the prizes are awarded I shall ask each one -if the plan is wholly his own idea, and I shall be willing to take his -word for it."</p> - -<p>"Then everything must be original, must it?" asked Bolly Millweed. "If -we have seen an arrangement of doors or windows we like in a hotel or -church, we must not use it."</p> - -<p>"Not at all," answered Captain Gildrock, a little impatiently. "If you -have ideas, they belong to you though you did not originate them. I -simply insist that you shall not use one another's ideas. I don't expect -you to originate many if any new ideas in architecture and engineering; -only to combine old ones for the particular structure we have in view. I -only ask you to do what any old farmer would do if he wanted to put<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> up -a set of farm buildings; and he would not go near an architect or civil -engineer, though it might pay him to do so."</p> - -<p>"I understand it now," said Dave.</p> - -<p>"I hope you all understand it; but if there are any questions to be -asked it must be done now, for not one will be considered after I -dismiss you this time. You may use any of the boats on Beech Hill Lake -during the next three days without further permission."</p> - -<p>The boys were ashamed to ask any more questions, and they left the -schoolroom. They were not to talk together about the plans, and they -separated outside the door, each to make his examination of the shores -of the little lake by himself. In a few minutes they were scattered all -along the border of the lake and creek, each one carefully avoiding all -the others; for, under the skilful training of Captain Gildrock, each -one had come to regard his honor as the apple of his eye.</p> - -<p>Of course there were some of the boys who had no more idea of the making -of a plan or the fitness of a locality for the boat-house than they had -of the erection of a Chinese pagoda; and the principal hardly expected -that more than half a dozen plans of the building and as many of the -location would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> be submitted. But he knew that the study given by the -pupils to the subject would be worth more than the prize to them.</p> - -<p>It was rather amusing to see some of them making so serious a matter of -the plans, but probably every one of them thought he could select the -best location for the wharf and boat-house, even if he could not make a -mark towards the plan of the structure. Many of them seated themselves -under the trees in view of the lake, with paper and pencil in hand, as -though they had begun to make the rough sketches of the plan.</p> - -<p>By the middle of the forenoon it was clear that some of the students had -got their ideas in working order, for they went to the schoolroom, and -began to make sketches on brown paper. But others were not satisfied -with the limited survey they had made of the lake, and wished to visit -the other side. Though the creek was narrow, there was no bridge on the -Beech Hill grounds, and it was too wide to be leaped over. Mat Randolph -proposed that they should go over in the barges. All hands were called, -and they assented to the plan.</p> - -<p>When they were seated in the boats, with only nine oarsmen in each, it -was decided to make a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> trip around the lake, in order to examine the -shore from the water side. At the head of the lake, in the rear of the -shop and schoolroom, was a rocky hill rising to the height of about a -hundred feet in the loftiest place. The rocks rose perpendicularly from -the lake, and the water was four feet deep alongside of them.</p> - -<p>Bolingbroke Millweed was earnest and critical in his survey of these -rocks, though hardly another of the party paid any attention to them. -Probably most of them thought it was the most unsuitable place on the -lake for the boat-house and wharf, though it was nearer to the mansion -and schoolroom than the present wharf, where the barges were moored.</p> - -<p>The two boats pulled with a gentle stroke around the lake, stopping at -several points for a more careful survey. If any one had any brilliant -ideas he was as silent as Beech Hill itself, at the head of the lake. -This was the name of the elevation in the rear of the schoolroom, and -the estate, the lake, and the institution had been called after it.</p> - -<p>Beech Hill Lake extended north and south within a quarter of a mile of -Porter's Bay, an inlet of Lake Champlain. Between the little lake<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> and -the bay there was a beautiful grove, which was one of the most -delightful resorts on the shipmaster's estate. He had intended to build -a bridge across the creek, back of Beech Hill; but an attempt had been -made to rob his house by a couple of New York burglars, who had landed -at the head of the bay, and crossed the lake in a boat which had -formerly been kept on the other side.</p> - -<p>The idea of constructing: a bridge had been given up after this attempt, -but a small pier had been built near the inlet of the creek, for -convenience in landing from boats at the grove. The barges went to this -little wharf, and the crews landed, and separated, each to pursue his -studies by himself. All of them made a careful examination of the west -shore of the lake.</p> - -<p>When he had finished his survey, Dory Dornwood seated himself under a -tree not far from the pier. He did not seem to think he had any talent -for architecture or civil engineering, and he had not a very strong hope -of winning either of the prizes. The fact that he was the founder's -nephew would not affect the matter in any way, for each competitor was -to put only a word or character on his work, which was also to be -written on an envelope containing his name. The examiners,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> whoever they -were, were not to know whose plan they were considering.</p> - -<p>While Dory was contemplating the shores of the lake, and making up his -mind in regard to the best place for the wharf, he heard voices in the -direction of the pier. Looking that way, he saw a squad of boys on the -little wharf. Their attention was fixed upon the two barges, which they -were examining with interest, not to say enthusiasm.</p> - -<p>Genverres had its proportion of bad boys as well as good ones, and Dory -recognized these visitors to the grove as belonging to the former class. -He had not been in the town long enough to have any acquaintance with -them, and hardly knew them by sight; but his uncle had pointed out a -couple of them whom he suspected of stealing fruit from his garden. In -fact he had suffered so much from the depredations of fruit-thieves, -that he had taken extensive and expensive precautions to keep them out -of his grounds.</p> - -<p>The captain had built a fence ten feet high from the main road to the -creek; the latter being considered a sufficient barrier on the west side -of the estate. The grove could easily be reached, but the grounds on the -east side of Beech Hill Lake<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> were now well protected. Dory saw that the -leading spirit of the squad of visitors was Tom Topover, a reckless -young rascal of sixteen or seventeen, who had made himself a terror to -the farmers on the outskirts of the town, as well as to many peaceable -citizens in the village.</p> - -<p>The presence of the "Topovers," as they had come to be called, after -their leader, boded no good to the boats, for the squad were -free-and-easy fellows, who had no more regard for the rights of property -than they had for the cleanliness of their faces and their garments. -Dory Dornwood knew how easy it was to get up a quarrel with this class -of young ruffians, and he did not think it was wise to go near them; but -he thought it was best to show himself, so that they might not be -tempted to meddle with the barges by the supposition that they were not -seen. He began to walk about where he could not fail to be observed by -the visitors.</p> - -<p>Dory looked all around him through the grove, but he could see only a -few of the other students. Doubtless they were all absorbed in the study -of the plan and location, for not a sound could be heard except the -dashing of the water against the rocks in the creek above the lake.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span></p><p>He and Matt Randolph had each a boatswain's whistle, used in calling -the boats' crews when they were separated, as in the present instance. -Its shrill pipe could be heard at least half a mile in a still day; but -the coxswain of the Winooski hoped he should have no occasion to use it. -The Topovers had seen him, and probably some of the other students, and -must know that the crews of both boats were in the grove, or the barges -would not be at the wharf.</p> - -<p>He watched the visitors very closely, but they manifested no -disposition, so far, to meddle with the boats. They were looking at -them, and made them the subject of a great deal of animated -conversation. Dory could not blame them for being delighted with the -barges, and the fact they were pleased was an evidence that they had -some good taste. But presently he saw four of them walking towards him. -They came in a direct line, and the coxswain had no doubt they had -something to say to him. One of them was Tom Topover; another was Kidd -Digfield; the two whom the captain had indicated as the plunderers of -his garden. He did not know the names of the other two.</p> - -<p>"Hullo, Dory!" called Tom Topover, when<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> the party came within hailing -distance of him, "Them's tip-top boats you've got down there."</p> - -<p>"They are very fine boats," replied Dory.</p> - -<p>"I s'pose you fellers have big times in 'em," continued Tom, as he and -his companions halted in front of the coxswain.</p> - -<p>"We have first-rate times in them," answered Dory, with a pleasant -smile, for he was very careful that there should be nothing exasperating -in his conduct, and he had learned that one's manner of saying anything -could be very provoking, even when nothing offensive was uttered.</p> - -<p>"You ain't usin' them boats now: won't you let me and the fellers take a -little turn in 'em on the pond?" Tom Topover proceeded with as much -assurance as though he was making only a reasonable request, as he -evidently believed it was.</p> - -<p>Dory felt that he had no more right to lend one of the boats than he had -to loan one of his uncle's shirts; and he saw the beginning of trouble -in the request.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER XII.</span> <span class="smaller">TOM TOPOVER HAS REASON TO BE ASTONISHED.</span></h2> - -<p>Tom Topover was a stout and wiry fellow, and he had the reputation of -being the greatest fighting character in Genverres. He made a quarrel -whenever he could, and he had proved a handful to several men who had -been called upon to tackle him in some of his marauding exploits. With -this reputation he was afraid of no one though a village policeman -declared that there was more bully than fight in him.</p> - -<p>Dory Dornwood wondered that Tom had taken the trouble to ask permission -to use the boats; but as he had done so, and done it in a respectful -manner, it was his duty to answer him; and the circumstances made it a -very disagreeable duty. The coxswain was not a "bruiser," and he had no -taste for pugilism, though, if attacked or assaulted, he was a very -vigorous opponent.</p> - -<p>"Those boats belong to Captain Gildrock," replied Dory to the request of -the Topover.</p> - -<p>"I know that, but you fellers takes care on 'em,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> and we only want to -use 'em a few minutes while you ain't in 'em," continued Tom, in a very -pliable manner for him. "We won't hurt 'em a mite, and we'll fetch 'em -back jest as soon as you fellers want 'em!"</p> - -<p>"The boats don't belong to me, and I have no right to lend them," added -Dory, with a pleasant smile to soften his refusal.</p> - -<p>"The cap'n won't say nothin' if you just let us take one of the boats -for a few minutes," pleaded Tom. "You needn't tell him, and he won't -know nothin' about it."</p> - -<p>"I have no right to lend the boat, and I can't do it," persisted Dory, -who had no confidence in the statements or the promises of the Topover.</p> - -<p>"What's the reason you can't?" demanded Tom, with a little more vigor in -his tones.</p> - -<p>"I have told you the reason: the boats don't belong to me. What would -you say if I should lend your hat to some fellow without your -permission?"</p> - -<p>"I shouldn't say a word; just as lief you'd do it as not," promptly -returned the applicant. "I ain't stingy with what belongs to me. If them -boats was mine, I'd let you have 'em all day when I wa'n't usin' 'em."</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span></p><p>Tom Topover made this display of liberality in a tone of triumph, and -he appeared to think it ought to settle the question at once. He looked -as complacent and self-satisfied as though he had actually loaned the -coxswain half a dozen barges every day for a week.</p> - -<p>"I have ten dollars belonging to my uncle which he gave me to pay a bill -in Burlington when I go there to-morrow," said Dory, amused but not -convinced by the unselfish offer of Tom. "Do you think it would be right -for me to lend that money?"</p> - -<p>"Right? Of course it would, if any good feller like me wanted to borry -it. Lend it to me, and I will pay it back next week when a man gives me -twenty dollars he owes me," answered Tom glibly.</p> - -<p>"I don't think it would be right, and I can't lend the money or the -boats because they don't belong to me. You must go to Captain Gildrock -if you want to borrow the boats," replied Dory, finding it was useless -to argue the point with one who had no respect for the rights of -property.</p> - -<p>"You'll let us take one of the boats, won't you? I hain't got no time to -go'n find Captain Gildrock," continued Tom.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span></p><p>"I will not let you take one of the boats," said Dory very decidedly. -"I have told you I could not."</p> - -<p>"All right! The boats don't belong to you, and 'tain't none of your -business," chuckled Tom. "We'll take a little turn in the furder boat, -and I'll see the cap'n arter we come back, and make it all right with -him."</p> - -<p>This seemed to be a satisfactory arrangement to Tom Topover, and he -started for the wharf, followed by his companions, with the evident -purpose of carrying out his idea at once.</p> - -<p>"The boats don't belong to me, but, as you said, we have the care of -them, and we can't let any one take them without Captain Gildrock's -permission."</p> - -<p>"What are you go'n to do about it?" demanded Tom, halting, and then -retracing his steps to the spot where the coxswain stood. "You don't -reckon I keer for you, do you?"</p> - -<p>"I don't want to make any words about it, and I have said all I have to -say," replied Dory, and he still maintained his quiet demeanor, though -things began to look like an immediate battle.</p> - -<p>"I don't want no words nuther. I'm go'n to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> take one of them boats, and -I want to know what you are go'n to do about it," blustered Tom.</p> - -<p>"I don't want to do anything; but the boats are in the care of our -fellows, and we are responsible for them. If you meddle with them, I -shall be obliged to call the crews, who are here in the grove," replied -the coxswain.</p> - -<p>"Call the crews, will you?" said Tom, clenching his fists and siding up -towards Dory.</p> - -<p>"There's two or three fellers comin' down here," interposed Kidd -Digfield.</p> - -<p>"You 'n' Nim Splugger look out for 'em, and I'll polish off this chap," -replied Tom, as he glanced into the grove, where he saw Matt Randolph -and Oscar Chester approaching. "Them boats don't belong to you, and -'tain't none of your business who takes 'em. I'll bet you don't call no -crews nuther," continued Tom, assuming a decidedly belligerent attitude.</p> - -<p>"I have nothing more to say," returned Dory, bracing himself up in -readiness to meet whatever might come.</p> - -<p>"All right if you hain't; and I hain't got much more to say; only if you -try to call them crews, you'll wish you'd been born deef and dumb," -added Tom, savagely, and enforcing his threat<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> with a flourish of his -dirty fists. "Come back, Kid, and be in a hurry," he shouted to his -companions he had sent to look out for Matt and Oscar, who were still -too far off to see what was transpiring near the wharf.</p> - -<p>Tom Topover started at a smart run for the wharf, closely followed by -his three companions. He had evidently changed his tactics all of a -sudden, and concluded not to fight any battle. The haste displayed -indicated that they were hurrying to get into the boats before any of -the crew could arrive. Dory comprehended the situation at once, and blew -a long pipe on the boatswain's whistle, which woke the echoes of the -quiet grove.</p> - -<p>"Git into them boats!" shouted Tom Topover, to the companions he had -left at the wharf. "Untie 'em, and pick up the oars!"</p> - -<p>The Topover intended to get possession of the boats while it was -possible to do so, and not lose any time in thrashing Dory, which he -regarded as an easy matter, a mere form. He had called his crew with the -whistle, and Matt, as soon as he heard it, had blown his own pipe. He -and Oscar had by this time got an idea that something was wrong, and -were running with all their speed towards the wharf.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span></p><p>Dory was not content with merely blowing his whistle, and, as soon as -he saw what Tom meant to do, he ran after him. There were about a dozen -Topovers, as nearly as he could judge, but he did not stop to ask -himself what he should do alone against such a host. The leader of the -young ruffians was not as fleet of foot as the three companions who had -attended him to the grove, and they reached the wharf when he had -accomplished about two thirds of the distance.</p> - -<p>"Hurry up, Pell Sankland!" shouted Kidd when he came to the wharf, -though the one called was not far ahead of Tom.</p> - -<p>Kidd Digfield appeared to be the second in power and influence of the -party, and he gave orders enough when he reached the vicinity of the -pier to confuse and confound those who had obtained a footing in the -boats. There were five in one barge and four in the other. They had -already cast off the painters, and hauled the boats up to the side of -the wharf.</p> - -<p>"Let the boats alone!" shouted Dory, when he had nearly overtaken Tom -Topover.</p> - -<p>"What are you go'n to do about it?" demanded Tom, halting, and facing -about.</p> - -<p>"Those fellows must not meddle with the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> boats," answered the coxswain, -and he was not disposed to stop to parley with the chief ruffian.</p> - -<p>"'Tain't none of your bread and butter; you said so yourself," -interposed Tom, stepping in front of Dory with clenched fists to bar his -further advance.</p> - -<p>The coxswain was not disposed to waste any time in words with Tom, and -he attempted to pass him by dodging to one side, but the ruffian threw -himself upon him, seizing him by his coat collar. This was an act of -violence, and it roused the lion in Dory's nature. He shook off the -grasp of his assailant without any difficulty, for if he was not as -quick as lightning, he was about as near it as a boy of his weight could -be. Once more he attempted to pass his assailant, but Tom got in front -of him again.</p> - -<p>"If you want to fight, come on!" foamed the Topover, as he put himself -into the order of battle.</p> - -<p>"I don't want to fight, but I shall defend myself," replied Dory. "Out -of my way!"</p> - -<p>Instead of taking himself out of the coxswain's path, Tom aimed a blow -at Dory's head. The ruffian might as well have pitched into the -sea-serpent or a royal Bengal tiger as into Dory Dornwood. He was rather -smaller than his assailant,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> but he had learned the art of self-defence -of a Burlington barber, who had formerly been a teacher of the -"science." His frame seemed to be made of steel wire. He had brains and -great dexterity of movement. Abundant exercise in boats and other -training had fully developed his powers, and every student in the Beech -Hill Industrial School knew that he was a terribly "hard hitter."</p> - -<p>The coxswain easily parried the blow aimed at him with his left hand, -and planted a sledgehammer hit with his right in Tom's face. The Topover -went just where Oscar Chester had gone on a similar occasion at -Plattsburg—on the ground, flat on his back. Doubtless the leader of the -young ruffians was greatly astonished, not to say confounded, at this -unexpected reception, for his historical studies had been neglected, and -he had never heard of the Battle of Plattsburg, at least the particular -one to which we refer.</p> - -<p>Dory did not think it necessary to push the battle any farther at the -present moment, though Tom instantly sprang to his feet, in spite of -some confusion in his ideas. With one eye on his assailant, Dory -retreated a few steps, and then resumed his march on the wharf.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span></p><p>"Hold on! I hain't licked you yet, and I'm go'n to do it afore I get -through," said Tom, moving towards his intended victim.</p> - -<p>"I can't wait for you to do it now," replied Dory, as he broke into a -run.</p> - -<p>But Tom began to swear like a pirate, and rushed after Dory. The latter -had no difficulty in keeping out of his way, and he reached the wharf -just as the villains in the boats had shoved them clear of the pier. -Kidd had put six of the party in each barge, and they had manned the -oars. But they had been obliged to leave their leader behind.</p> - -<p>Tom Topover now observed this bit of strategy, and he divided his vials -of wrath between the coxswain and his lieutenant.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER XIII.</span> <span class="smaller">A VICTORY FOR THE TOPOVERS.</span></h2> - -<p>Dory Dornwood reached the wharf too late to prevent the ruffians from -getting off in the boats; and his failure filled him with consternation. -It was not for a few minutes, as Tom Topover had said, that the ruffians -wanted them, but for all day, or for a week or a month, if they were not -sooner taken from them. Living on the river and near the lake, such -fellows would naturally take to the water, and all or most of them knew -how to handle an oar, but not one of them could be called a skilful -boatman, though Kidd Digfield claimed to be a sailor on the ground that -he had made two trips in a lumber schooner.</p> - -<p>Even if the Topovers were competent to handle a common row-boat, it was -quite another thing to manage a barge fifty feet long, pulled by twelve -oars. If they succeeded in getting the boats out of the river, they were -likely to swamp them in the waves, smash them on the rocks, or grind -their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> cedar bottoms on the gravelly beaches. Dory had a genuine -affection for the Winooski, and it grieved him sorely to see her in the -hands of such a villainous crew as the Topovers.</p> - -<p>Of course there was nothing to be done at Beech Hill until the barges -were recovered. The wind was northwest and blowing fresh, as on the day -before, and it was dangerous for an unskilful crew to venture out on the -lake. The lives of the reckless party would be in peril as well as the -boats.</p> - -<p>Dory had but a few moments to consider the matter. Matt Randolph and -Oscar Chester were near him, out of breath after the run they had made. -Tom Topover had retreated to the shore of the pond; and the coxswain of -the Winooski, not wishing to engage in a fight, had neglected to follow -him. Nim Splugger had taken command of the Gildrock, and Kidd Digfield -of the Winooski. They had made sure to put a couple of lengths between -the barges and the wharf, and in this position they were as safe from -any interference of the boys on shore as though they had been in the -middle of the lake.</p> - -<p>There was no boat at the grove, and no means of pursuing the captors of -the barges. In fact,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> nothing at all could be done, and for the moment -the situation looked hopeless to the coxswains. Kidd proceeded to give -directions to his crew as soon as the immediate danger of capture was -passed. Taking the tiller-lines himself, he brought something like order -out of the confusion in his crew. After a great deal of sharp talk, he -succeeded in getting his fellows so that they could pull a stroke -together, and the Winooski slowly moved towards the lower end of the -lake.</p> - -<p>Kidd could not help seeing the chief Topover on the shore, and as soon -as his crew were in working order, he headed to the point where he -stood. Dory immediately observed the change in the course of the -Winooski, and understood the purpose of her present coxswain, which was -to take Tom on board. By this time Matt and Oscar were as near the spot -where Tom was waiting for the boat as Dory was.</p> - -<p>"Head them off!" shouted Dory, as he started at the top of his speed.</p> - -<p>"Pull lively, fellers!" yelled Kidd Digfield, when he saw the three -students running towards his leader.</p> - -<p>They did pull with all their might, and as the Winooski was bound to go -ahead when the oars<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> crossed her gunwale, she was too much for the -runners on the shore. Dory hoped one of the clumsy oarsmen would "catch -a crab" at that important moment, but not one of them gratified his -desire. He was within a couple of rods of Tom, and was all ready to -pitch into him, when Kidd ordered his crew to stop rowing, and then to -back water.</p> - -<p>The inexperienced coxswain had not calculated well, and the boat lost -her headway when her sharp bow was within ten feet of the shore. Dory's -hopes swelled when he saw the boat come to a stand, and he increased his -speed.</p> - -<p>"Pull again!" shouted Kidd, almost crazy with excitement, when he -realized that he was losing the game.</p> - -<p>But his undisciplined crew were in confusion, and only half of them -could bring their oars to bear. The barge went ahead again just as Dory -was about to pounce on Tom Topover. The leader of the ruffians saw his -peril, and he did not seem to be "spoiling for a fight" at just that -moment, perhaps because his late victim had been reinforced by a couple -of his companions. He had not another instant to spare, and Tom made a -vigorous leap for the bow of the Winooski.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span></p><p>The stem of the barge was not more than three or four feet distant when -the Topover made his leap, but the pointed bow was an ugly foundation to -strike upon. He could not throw his body into the fore sheets, but he -succeeded in grasping the gunwale with both hands, while the lower half -of his body went into the water. Unfortunately the force of his blow had -been imparted to the forward part of the barge, and it had been shoved -farther away from the shore.</p> - -<p>Tom Topover dragged himself into the Winooski. Seizing a boathook, he -stood up in the bow of the boat, evidently intending to use it in case -of need in defending himself from an attack of his pursuers. The two -coxswains reached the shore with their wind about gone, to find that ten -feet of deep water lay between them and the nearest part of the -Winooski. They could leap into the water and swim to her, and Oscar -Chester proposed to do so; but this would have been folly, for the -ruffians could easily beat them off with their oars and the boathooks.</p> - -<p>Nim Splugger, who had assumed the command of the Gildrock, did not claim -to be a sailor, though he had often pulled an oar. He lacked confidence -in his own ability, and was therefore<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> not so imperative in his orders -as Kidd. The boat was clear of the wharf, and he took time to arrange -his crew at the oars. Before he could get them into working order, their -attention was attracted to Tom and the movements of the Winooski. They -rested on their oars, watching the issue of the affair near the shore.</p> - -<p>"Now, back her, fellers!" yelled Kidd Digfield, as soon as he saw that -Tom was in the boat.</p> - -<p>"No, you don't back her, Kidd!" roared Tom Topover. "That ain't no way -to do it! Pull on this side," and the leader pointed to the starboard -side; "back on t'other!"</p> - -<p>Tom was right, if he did not claim to be a sailor, and Kidd was wrong, -for backing her would only have sent the barge along parallel with the -shore, with the chances of a deviation which would have thrown the stern -within reach of the students on shore. Tom called his disciples by name, -and told each one what to do. Kidd took in his captain's idea, and -helped him with his words. Under their united directions, the head of -the Winooski was thrown around, and she was forced out into the lake.</p> - -<p>"I hain't done with you yet, Dory," yelled Tom, shaking his fist at the -proper coxswain of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> barge. "Afore you are a week older I'll give you -the biggest lickin' you ever got in your life. I'll crack half the bones -in your body! I'll mash your head till you won't know it from a last -year's punkin!"</p> - -<p>"You had better bring those boats back before you get into hot water," -replied Dory, more in grief than in anger. "Let me tell you that you are -stealing them, and Captain Gildrock will haul you up before the court -for it."</p> - -<p>"Shut up, you monkey milksop! When we've done with the boats we'll set -'em a-fire!" returned Tom.</p> - -<p>"I can't stand this! I shall boil over!" exclaimed Oscar Chester. "I -should like to get near enough to that scallawag to pitch into him."</p> - -<p>"Keep cool, Oscar," said Dory. "We can't do anything just now, and it's -no use to boil over."</p> - -<p>"What makes that fellow so down on you, Dory?" asked Matt Randolph. "He -didn't say anything to Oscar and me."</p> - -<p>"Perhaps I gave him reason to be down upon me, though I only defended -myself. I knocked him over when he tried to stop me from reaching the -wharf," answered the coxswain of the Winooski. "If I had only got among -those ruffians<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> half a minute sooner, I might have saved the boats, -though I should have had to stand up against the whole of them."</p> - -<p>Matt wanted to know more about the affair, and Dory told all that had -happened since he first saw the Topovers. By the time his fellow -coxswain had heard the story, the rest of the two crews began to arrive. -They could see for themselves why they had been summoned so soon. Tom -had taken possession of the stern-sheets of the Winooski, and sent Kidd -to one of the vacant thwarts to row. The ruffians were struggling with -the oars, for, though they had the strength, they were utterly lacking -in discipline and knowledge. But they pulled with some degree of -unanimity, and the Winooski went ahead at a very moderate rate. The -Gildrock was doing better than her consort, for Nim Splugger did not -confuse his crew with too many orders, and each one got the hang of the -oar in his own way.</p> - -<p>Both boats were moving, and were headed towards the outlet of the lake. -Their regular crews at the grove could only look on, for they were -powerless to raise a finger to recover the boats at present. One after -another suggested various experiments for demolishing the Topovers,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> but -their schemes were either foolish or impracticable. Oscar Chester wanted -to run down to the narrowest place on the outlet, and make an attack on -the marauders; but both Matt and Dory were not in favor of such a plan.</p> - -<p>"If we get desperate, and try to break things, those villains will smash -the boats rather than let us get them. That Tom Topover is as mad as a -March hare at the rap Dory gave him," said Matt.</p> - -<p>"I think we had better report to Captain Gildrock, for I don't see that -we can do anything here," suggested Dory, as he gazed sadly at the -retreating barges.</p> - -<p>"We can't even get over to Beech Hill," added Luke Bennington, as he -glanced across the lake at the school grounds.</p> - -<p>"We must go around by the road, and it is over a mile," added Pemberton -Millweed.</p> - -<p>"It seems to me that somebody on the other side must have seen what was -going on," said Matt.</p> - -<p>"I don't think anyone has seen what was going on," replied Dory. "Bates -is on duty in the dormitory, the teachers are attending to their own -affairs, and probably Captain Gildrock is in the house. If any of them -saw the boats going down<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> the lake, they were too far off to know who -were in them. If my uncle knew anything about this business, he would -have sent a boat over before this time."</p> - -<p>"If we had been in any mischief, half a dozen of them would have seen -us," said Thad Glovering, with a laugh.</p> - -<p>"It's no use to stay here, and we may as well walk around by the road -and report to Captain Gildrock," added Dory.</p> - -<p>This was considered the best thing to do, and in half an hour they -arrived at the school grounds on the other side of the lake. No one knew -anything of what had happened on the other side of the water. They could -not find the principal about the place; and at last one of the stablemen -said he had gone to the village with Mrs. Dornwood in the buggy.</p> - -<p>Mr. Jepson, the master machinist, was the only instructor they could -find about the premises, and he agreed with Dory and Matt that something -should be done at once.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER XIV.</span> <span class="smaller">THE PURSUIT IN THE GOLDWING.</span></h2> - -<p>It was easier to decide that something should be done than it was to -determine what to do. Mr. Jepson suggested the Sylph, but it would take -some time to get up steam, and Dory thought she would not be the most -convenient craft in a conflict with the barges. He was decidedly in -favor of pursuing the marauders in the Goldwing.</p> - -<p>In the smashing breeze on the lake she would sail nearly as fast as the -steamer, and he could have her under way in five minutes. The schooner -could follow the boats into shoal water, while the Sylph must have eight -or nine feet, and if Tom Topover was smart, she might not be able to go -within a mile of the barges.</p> - -<p>"I am more afraid the rascals will smash the boats than that we shall -not get them again," said Matt Randolph. "They are reckless fellows, and -will run them on the rocks or shoals."</p> - -<p>"We must look out for that," replied Dory.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> "If they go out on the lake -they are more likely to swamp them than they are to smash them. But we -are losing time, and I should like to catch the villains before they are -out of the river, for I think they won't hurry after they get out of -sight of Beech Hill."</p> - -<p>"Goldwing it is!" exclaimed Luke Bennington.</p> - -<p>"So say we all of us!" shouted the others, beginning to be somewhat -excited at the prospect of a lively time with the Topovers.</p> - -<p>"Dory shall command the expedition," added Thad Glovering.</p> - -<p>"Matt is a better skipper than I am," modestly added Dory.</p> - -<p>"No, I am not," protested Matt. "And Dory is better acquainted with the -Goldwing than I am, and he shall conduct the affair."</p> - -<p>"But you can't all go in the Goldwing," interposed Mr. Jepson. "There -are eighteen of you, and you will be so crowded that you will knock one -another overboard."</p> - -<p>"Although the schooner will carry eighteen well enough, we can do -nothing on board with so many, and nine or ten are all we need," added -Dory.</p> - -<p>"But there are fourteen of the ruffians," <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span>suggested Thad Glovering. -"They are used to fighting, and we want as many fellows as they have."</p> - -<p>"I don't believe there will be much fighting," replied Dory, laughing; -"but if there should be, we can do better with ten than we can with -twice that number. With eighteen we should be in one another's way."</p> - -<p>"Ten only will go," said Mr. Jepson decidedly.</p> - -<p>"But who shall they be?" demanded Luke Bennington. "Every fellow wants -to go and have a hand in the fun."</p> - -<p>"There is where the difficulty comes in," added Matt. "I think Dory had -better select his own crew; and for one, if I am elected to stay at -home, I won't complain."</p> - -<p>"You know very well that you will be elected to go, Matt," said Will -Orwell.</p> - -<p>"I don't like to select a crew; I wish all could go, and I shall be -satisfied with any nine," interposed Dory.</p> - -<p>"Under these circumstances the best thing a fellow can do is to -volunteer to stay behind; and I volunteer not to go," said Oscar -Chester. "I should like to go as well as the next one, and I don't want -any fellow to think I am chickenish."</p> - -<p>"We know you are not, Oscar," added Dave<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> Windsor; and all the students -began to clap their hands at the self-sacrifice of the first volunteer.</p> - -<p>Bolingbroke Millweed followed Oscar's example; then came Matt Randolph -and Luke Bennington. It was the unselfish and brave thing to volunteer -to stay at home, and no one was willing to stay behind in doing a good -deed. In a moment more the whole seventeen had volunteered to remain at -Beech Hill.</p> - -<p>"I don't like to be alone, and I will join the crowd," exclaimed Dory, -greatly amused at the situation. "We are just as badly off as we were in -the beginning, and the Topovers are pulling down the river all the time. -I will tell you how to settle the matter so that it shall be fair for -all."</p> - -<p>"All right, Dory: propel!" exclaimed Dave Winslow.</p> - -<p>"Matt Randolph is the coxswain of the Gildrock, and he must go anyhow. -For the other eight you must draw lots. Mr. Jepson will attend to the -matter, and Matt and I will get the Goldwing ready," said Dory, -beginning to be impatient at the delay.</p> - -<p>All of them clapped their hands in token of their approval of the plan. -The master machinist took out his pencil and wrote the numbers from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> one -to sixteen on the back of a letter. Around eight of them, taken at -random, he drew a square. Calling Miss Millweed from the schoolroom, he -gave the paper to her.</p> - -<p>"Now, Luke, select a number less than seventeen," continued Mr. Jepson.</p> - -<p>"Forty-two," said Luke, laughing.</p> - -<p>"I shall have to turn you over to Mr. Darlingby for further instruction -in arithmetic," replied Mr. Jepson.</p> - -<p>"Twelve," shouted Luke.</p> - -<p>"Is that number enclosed in a square, Miss Millweed?" asked the -machinist.</p> - -<p>"It is not," replied the lady clerk.</p> - -<p>"Then you are blackballed, Luke," added Mr. Jepson.</p> - -<p>"Of course I am; I knew I should be."</p> - -<p>"But with the eight who are elected not to go we will go down the river -in the two four-oar boats; and we may be able to assist in the capture -of the barges," said the machinist.</p> - -<p>All hands applauded this announcement, and the lot proceeded. Oscar -Chester, the first to volunteer to remain behind, was one of the first -who selected a squared number. This result was heartily applauded. From -being the worst bully<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> in the crowd he had come to be a very gentlemanly -and unselfish fellow. The discipline of Captain Gildrock had done -wonders for him.</p> - -<p>By the time the last of Dory's crew had been drawn, the schooner was -under way, and standing in towards the wharf. The eight who had been -"blackballed," as the machinist called it, were directed to man the two -four-oar boats, and put the others on board of the yacht.</p> - -<p>"Now we are all right, and under way at last," said Matt Randolph.</p> - -<p>"But the Topovers have a start of all of an hour ahead of us, and if -they have been using their oars they must be well out in the lake by -this time," added Dory.</p> - -<p>"I don't believe they will go a great way out into the lake," replied -Matt. "There must be a smart sea at the mouth of the river, for the wind -is a good deal heavier than it was yesterday."</p> - -<p>"The rest of the fellows are coming down the river in the four-oar -boats," said Oscar. "I suppose they are going to help us, and we ought -to make short work of this affair."</p> - -<p>"Are you going to lay them aboard, Dory?" asked Matt, who was rather -inclined to quiz his fellow coxswain.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span></p><p>"I haven't the least idea how we shall manage the business," replied -the skipper of the Goldwing.</p> - -<p>"But you ought to have a plan," suggested the New York boatman.</p> - -<p>"How can you make a plan before you know what the Topovers intend to do, -and before you ascertain the situation of the boats?" asked the skipper. -"It's no use to try to cross the river before you get to it."</p> - -<p>"Of course not; but do you mean to board the barges and fight it out, or -to manœuvre them out of the game as you did the Chesterfields?" -continued Matt, rather disappointed to find that Dory did not lean upon -him as much as he desired and expected.</p> - -<p>"I am ready to do either or both, as the circumstances happen to favor," -replied the skipper. "If you will take the tiller, Matt, I will go -forward and 'clear ship for action.'"</p> - -<p>The schooner was going at great speed, with the wind on the beam, and -the outlet was very narrow. Dory went forward, and proceeded to arrange -certain rigging on the forward deck. He did not explain what he was -doing, but he worked as though he had some idea of his possible action -in the encounter with the Topovers.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span></p><p>While he was busy with the lines, the centreboard of the Goldwing -suddenly flew up, and a moment later the bottom of the yacht was -scraping on the sand. Dory suspended his work, and looked up.</p> - -<p>"Here we are!" he exclaimed, as he looked around him, and then at the -helmsman.</p> - -<p>"I thought there was water enough here for her," said Matt, greatly -chagrined to find that he had run the schooner aground when they were in -such a hurry.</p> - -<p>"So there is if you only keep in it," replied Dory laughing, for he did -not wish to hurt the feelings of his fellow coxswain. "I have done that -same thing myself, Matt, and I did it as handsomely as you have done -it."</p> - -<p>"We have to haul her up into the wind here, and I was afraid she would -go ashore on the other side," pleaded Matt. "But here we are with the -centreboard up in the air, and the planks rasping the sand on the -bottom."</p> - -<p>The disaster occurred at the bend in the outlet, which Dory called the -"V point." The current, which was quite strong at high water, deposited -a great deal of sand at the apex of the point, while its force made a -clear channel near the shore on the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> other side. When the wind was -northwest it was necessary to hug the point as closely as possible.</p> - -<p>The two oars and the boathook were at once brought into use, but it was -impossible to move the hull in this way. Dory sent a couple of the crew -ashore in the tender with a line, which they made fast to a tree near -the deep water. The anchor was taken on deck, and the other end of the -line passed through the block on the bowsprit. All on board manned this -line, and the bow was hauled off almost in the twinkling of an eye. Matt -insisted that Dory should take the helm, when the tender had returned -with the line.</p> - -<p>It was not an easy thing to get under way again in that bad place and -Matt was very much mortified at the mishap. The skipper said all he -could to comfort him, and gave him the helm again as soon as the -schooner was in Beaver River. He arranged his lines as he had before, -and by the time he had done this the Goldwing was approaching the mouth -of the river. But a bend prevented them from seeing out into the lake.</p> - -<p>"There they are!" shouted Dory at the heel of the bowsprit, where he -could get the first view of the white-capped waves. "They are doing the -very thing I was afraid they would do."</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span></p><p>"What's that, Dory?" asked Matt, starting the sheets as the course of -the yacht was changed.</p> - -<p>"They are standing across the lake, and in a short time, if they make -any headway, they will be in smooth water," replied the skipper.</p> - -<p>Matt did not ask any questions, and possibly he suspected that Dory was -his superior in the management of a boat. If he did, it was only because -he was mortified at the accident at V Point. The Goldwing went out into -the lake, and began to dance on the billows. The two barges appeared to -be doing very well, in spite of the inefficient crew at the oars. Both -of them were pitching smartly, and were not taking in water except in -the form of spray.</p> - -<p>In a few minutes the Goldwing was within hailing distance of the barges. -Dory declined to take the helm when Matt suggested, and was again busy -with his lines on the forward deck.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER XV.</span> <span class="smaller">THE SKIPPER USES A NAUTICAL LASSO.</span></h2> - -<p>"What's that?" called George Duane, while Dory was still busy on the -forward deck.</p> - -<p>This question was called forth by what sounded like a volley of cheers -from the New York side of the lake; but nothing could be seen to -indicate the source from which the noise came.</p> - -<p>"There it is again," added John Brattle, as three distinct cheers came -over the waves. "There is some sort of a party up that little cove."</p> - -<p>There was an inlet just to the south of the barges, from which it was -now evident that the sounds came. But parties from the surrounding -country frequently had frolics on the shores of the lake, and the -students concluded that the cheers came from one of these gatherings.</p> - -<p>The Topovers continued on their course, and seemed to be laboring to -increase their speed, which was certainly moderate enough. They<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> pulled -but six oars in each barge, and against the wind and the heavy sea they -could make but little progress. The Goldwing was making three miles to -their one, and the moment for action was near.</p> - -<p>Though the Goldwing was close-hauled, she leaped over the waves like a -bird, and Matt was running directly for the barges, one of which was -following the other, the Winooski being ahead. The skipper finished -arranging the lines on the forward deck. Getting on his feet he made a -careful survey of the situation.</p> - -<p>"Matt, can you go to windward of the barges?" he called to the helmsman.</p> - -<p>"I might, possibly, but it would be a close squeeze," replied Matt.</p> - -<p>"Then we must work more to windward: tack, if you please," added Dory; -and it was evident that he had prepared his plan of attack.</p> - -<p>Matt came about and headed the Goldwing to the north. Dory kept his eye -on the barges, but he gave no hint of his method of operations. Probably -Matt thought he was entitled to be informed in regard to the plan, but -the accident in the river for which he was responsible had humbled him, -and he asked no questions.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span></p><p>When the schooner had made about a quarter of a mile of northing, the -skipper gave the order to tack again. Matt was directed to steer for a -certain point on the shore, which would carry the yacht a little -distance to windward of the barges, allowing for the headway they would -make before she could reach them. In that lively breeze even the width -of the lake at Beaver River was only a run of a few minutes for the -Goldwing, and she was very soon abreast of the Gildrock. The Winooski -was about a hundred fathoms ahead of her.</p> - -<p>"Now, Matt, we have some sharp work to do, and every thing must be done -on the instant," said Dory, when the Goldwing had passed the Gildrock -and was up with the Winooski.</p> - -<p>"Perhaps you had better take the helm, then?" suggested the coxswain of -the Gildrock.</p> - -<p>"I can't, for I have a job to do here on the forward deck. We shall go -about, and run for the Gildrock in a moment," replied Dory. "I want you -to make for her stem just as though you meant to run her down."</p> - -<p>"All right, Dory; I will obey orders to the letter," returned the -helmsman.</p> - -<p>"I would rather you would obey them in spirit;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> so if I make a blunder, -and get knocked out, I want you to correct it," added Dory lightly.</p> - -<p>"I don't know what you are going to do, and I can only obey orders to -the letter," said Matt.</p> - -<p>"I could not settle on any plan until I had seen how the barges lay; and -it is too late to explain now. Ready about!"</p> - -<p>Matt promptly obeyed the orders given him, and the schooner came -entirely around. It would have been a shorter way to jibe her, but the -skipper never ventured upon this manœuvre when the wind was at all -fresh; for he was not one of those venturesome boatmen who think they -are not smart unless they incur needless risks.</p> - -<p>Dory saw that Matt was carrying out his orders to the letter, and it was -clear that Nim Splugger, the acting coxswain of the Gildrock, was -getting nervous as he saw the Goldwing dashing down upon his craft.</p> - -<p>"What are you about? You will run over us!" yelled Nim, when he saw the -schooner within twenty feet of him.</p> - -<p>The oarsmen were inclined to desert their posts, and kept looking behind -them at the Goldwing. But both barges had been in the trough of the sea, -and those in charge of them had found by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> actual trial that the only way -they could go was directly across the lake, against the wind. This was -the reason why the barges were nearly over to the New York shore, and -not because they were following a plan of their own.</p> - -<p>"Keep to your oars, fellers!" shouted Nim Splugger, when he saw several -of his crew cease rowing. "Never mind that boat! She won't run into us."</p> - -<p>But Nim had his doubts on this point, for the Goldwing did not budge an -inch from her course. Dory had looked over his lines, and was watching -the course of the schooner and the position of the Gildrock. When the -schooner was within ten feet of the barge, Nim gave a frantic yell, and -all the rowers gave up in despair.</p> - -<p>"Keep her away a little, Matt!" called Dory, who was now on his feet -with a line in each hand.</p> - -<p>The Topovers in the Gildrock gave a desperate yell, satisfied that they -should be floundering in the angry waters the next instant. The Goldwing -fell off a trifle at this moment, in obedience to the helm. Dory had -fixed the line in his left hand on the spur of the light boathook, which -he extended as far as he could reach. As he did so, one of the covers -from the cook-stove, which he had secured<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> to the bight between his -hands, dropped into the water.</p> - -<p>Thus arranged, the line formed a snare in the shape of a triangle, the -stove-cover sinking the lower angle a couple of feet under water. As the -skipper held the snare, the Gildrock ran her bow directly into it. The -bight of the line was a slip-noose, and as the schooner drove ahead, it -tightened up.</p> - -<p>As the Goldwing went ahead, Dory paid out the line rapidly, for a single -jerk would have upset the barge. The Topovers in the boat were so -terrified that they did not comprehend what Dory was about.</p> - -<p>"Hard down your helm, Matt!" shouted Dory, with tremendous energy, when -half his line had run out, and the bow of the schooner was abreast of -the stern of the Gildrock.</p> - -<p>Oscar Chester had been stationed at the mainsheet, and the instant Matt -put the helm down he hauled in the sheet with all his might. The effect -of these orders, as they were sharply executed, was to cause the -Goldwing to circle around the stern of the barge, and come up -close-hauled on her starboard side.</p> - -<p>"Now we are all right! It's a success!" cried<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> Dory, with all the -enthusiasm of a person who has won a great victory.</p> - -<p>But even his own crew did not understand what he was about, and had not -the least idea of the working of his plan. All that had been done had -been accomplished in a few seconds, and the rapid working of the -schooner absorbed all their attention.</p> - -<p>When the Goldwing came about under the stern of the barge, Dory rushed -aft with the end of his line in his hand, and made it fast to a cleat. -The rope had sunk in the water, and passed under the keel of the -Gildrock.</p> - -<p>"Touch her up, Matt! Lively, if you please!" said Dory, as he secured -the line in his hand.</p> - -<p>But the schooner had not yet got under full speed since she came about, -and when the mainsail shook she had lost about all her headway. But she -was not permitted to come to. Dory took the helm now, which Matt was -very willing to have him do.</p> - -<p>"Go aft, every one of you!" shouted Dory to the Topovers in the barge. -"If you don't you will be overboard in a moment!"</p> - -<p>The six oarsmen had been stationed in the middle of the boat, leaving -the vacant places forward<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span> and aft. Without waiting for orders from Nim -Splugger, the rowers all hurried aft as fast as the uneasy motion of the -craft would permit. This change in her burden caused the bow of the -Gildrock to be lifted out of the water, which was precisely what Dory -desired. Putting the helm of Goldwing up he allowed the yacht to gather -headway by slow degrees. He had lassoed the barge, but he was not -certain of the effect when he should attempt to tow her. The slip-noose -had come home so that the knot was nearly in line with the stem.</p> - -<p>"I see now what you are about," said Matt, while Dory was experimenting -with the process of towing the barge. "But those fellows will cut the -line as soon as they get a little used to the movement of the boat and -understand what you are doing."</p> - -<p>"If any one of them attempts to go forward, we can pitch him into the -lake as quick as we can shift the helm of the Goldwing," replied Dory -confidently.</p> - -<p>"I see!" exclaimed Matt, laughing. "A pull sideways would heel the barge -over so that the water would go over her gunwale."</p> - -<p>"The two four-oar boats are coming!" shouted Dick Short, "Mr. Jepson is -in one of them."</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span></p><p>"Good! We may want some of those fellows before we get through with -this business," replied the skipper.</p> - -<p>"But what are you going to do with your game now that you have snared -it, Dory?" asked Matt.</p> - -<p>"I am going to put the Topovers ashore over here, and send the Gildrock -home at once," answered Dory. "I should have told you about my plan, -Matt, but I didn't believe in it myself until the last minute. I was -sure you would laugh at it; and if I did not succeed in carrying it out -I did not want you to have to bear any of the responsibility of its -failure."</p> - -<p>"I think I should have laughed at it; and I can't help doing so now," -added Matt, suiting the action to the words.</p> - -<p>With the whole length of the line out, the Gildrock towed better than -Dory had expected she would. But the barge both pitched and rolled as it -was dragged at an angle over the waves, and the Topovers in her had to -hold on with both hands. With only half her usual crew, and these all in -the stern sheets, the tow-line did not force her bow under, and she kept -very nearly in her proper trim.</p> - -<p>Finding that she went along very well, Dory<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span> headed the Goldwing for the -little cove from which the cheers had come. By this time the Winooski -had got into the smooth water, comparatively, under the lee of the -shore. If Commodore Tom Topover wanted to do anything to assist his -companions in the other boat, he was as fearful of coming about as he -had been in the middle of the lake. As soon as he was under the shelter -of the shore, he headed his craft to the south. But he might as well -have chased the lightning as the Goldwing.</p> - -<p>As the schooner approached the mouth of the cove she was saluted by a -volley of noisy cheers. At the same time the bows of two boats came in -sight.</p> - -<p>"The Chesterfields! We are in for it now!" shouted Ben Ludlow.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER XVI.</span> <span class="smaller">COMMODORE TOM TOPOVER VISITS THE GOLDWING.</span></h2> - -<p>The cheers the Beech Hill students had heard before had evidently been -given by the Chesterfields, and not by a picnic party. Dory was not -pleased to see them after the experience of the day before; and their -last words had been threats of vengeance. The fresh paint could be seen -on the bow of the Dasher where the injury done by the Winooski had been -repaired.</p> - -<p>The Dasher appeared to be the leading boat, and Mad Twinker had changed -from the other barge, and became her coxswain. Wash Barker was not in -either craft, and his place in the Racer was filled by Jeff Monroe, who -had been active in the affair of the day before.</p> - -<p>As soon as the Goldwing appeared off the point, dragging the Gildrock -after her, the Chesterfields set up a yell, and it was plain that they -identified the Beech Hill students who had so thoroughly humiliated them -on the day before. Their lusty<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> cheers indicated that they were ready to -take the vengeance they had promised to obtain. Mad Twinker headed the -Dasher for the Goldwing, and the Racer followed.</p> - -<p>It seemed to be a holiday at the Chesterfield Collegiate Institute, and -the boats' crews had evidently been practising in the cove all the -morning. There was a marked improvement in their rowing; they had -observed the excellent discipline that prevailed on board of the -Winooski, and they had doubtless learned a lesson from what they had -seen. After the Chesterfields had given the three cheers, which did not -appear to mean anything, unless they were cheering their enemy, there -was no whooping or yelling as at the former meeting of the boats.</p> - -<p>"Those fellows promised to get even with us when we parted last night," -said Dory, after they had observed the movements of the Chesterfields -for a few minutes. "I suppose they are ready to begin now."</p> - -<p>"If they do begin now they will have a nice time of it," added Matt.</p> - -<p>"They will never forgive us for compelling them to give up our clothes -before they were ready to do so," continued the skipper. "They are in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> -better discipline, and behave better this morning than they did -yesterday. But they don't seem to know anything at all about a boat, and -they think they can overhaul the Goldwing without any difficulty."</p> - -<p>"If we run up this cove they will have us on the hips," replied Matt. -"There are twenty-six of them, while we are only nine, and if they catch -us they can have it all their own way."</p> - -<p>"You are right, Matt, and we will not go up the cove. We will go up to -Rock Harbor, and we can land the Topovers long before they can pull that -distance."</p> - -<p>The skipper let off the sheets, and headed the schooner to the south. -She was almost before the wind, and the yacht flew like a locomotive on -her course. In a few minutes the barges were a mile astern of her. At -the mouth of Rock Harbor the wind had a fair sweep, and the sea was -almost as rough as it had been in the middle of the lake.</p> - -<p>As the Goldwing approached the south side of the inlet, Dory rounded to -very carefully, so as not to swamp the Gildrock, though the terrified -Topovers were well shaken up in the manœuvre. Running into the cove -just far enough to escape the heaviest of the waves, Dory directed his -crew<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> to haul on the tow-line, and bring the Gildrock within talking -distance. Spilling the sail, he allowed the yacht to drift towards the -shore.</p> - -<p>"We intend to put you on shore here," shouted Dory to the occupants of -the Gildrock.</p> - -<p>"We can never get home from here," yelled Nim Splugger.</p> - -<p>"That's your look out. You must go ashore, or we will spill you all out -into the water by the beach," replied the skipper.</p> - -<p>Nim made no reply, for he saw that his captors were in earnest. Dory -directed Matt and Oscar to land them three or four at a time in the -tender. He explained what he meant to do to the prisoners, and -threatened them with a ducking if they resisted. They did not resist, -for they felt that the skipper could have his own way with them. Matt -landed them in two trips; but Nim Splugger showed fight when they were -all on the beach. He attempted to hold on to the tender, but Oscar -pitched him out of the boat into the water. The moment he was out of it, -Matt shoved it from the shore, and they pulled back to the Goldwing.</p> - -<p>It had taken some time to land the Topovers, and by the time the -Gildrock had been properly rigged for towing, the two barges of the -<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span>Chesterfields, which had followed the schooner, were within a quarter -of a mile of the point where the marauders had been put on shore. They -made a sweep into the harbor, so as to avoid the rough water.</p> - -<p>"Help! help!" yelled the Topovers on the land, when they saw the barges -approaching them.</p> - -<p>It was not probable that the Chesterfields knew anything about the -Topovers; but they could not help seeing that they had been at war with -the Beach Hill students, and had been defeated. For this reason, -doubtless they sympathized with the ruffians; at any rate they were the -enemies of the Beech Hillers, and this fact made them allies.</p> - -<p>Dory headed the Goldwing out into the lake. The skipper and the crew -watched the movements of the Chesterfields with interest. Possibly the -curiosity of the latter was excited by the scene they had witnessed, and -they wished to inquire into its meaning. At any rate they pulled for the -point where the Topovers had been landed, and the heavy sea prevented -them from following the schooner out into the lake.</p> - -<p>The Chesterfield barges made a landing farther up the harbor, and three -of the marauders were taken into one boat, and four into the other.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> -They did not remain at the shore a moment after they had picked up their -passengers, but followed the yacht by the inside route. The crews of the -Dasher and Racer had not seen the capture of the Gildrock with the -lasso, and could not have known that the Winooski was making for the New -York shore, a mile or more to the north of them. Their passengers told -them their story, and no doubt they were anxious to see the battle for -the other boat, if not to take a hand in it.</p> - -<p>The presence of the Chesterfields had considerably disturbed the -arrangements of Dory, who had intended to tackle the marauders in the -other barge as soon as he could get rid of the prisoners. It had taken -some time to dispose of them, and it was possible that Tom Topover had -reached the shore by this time.</p> - -<p>"There are the two four-oar boats," said Matt, when they were off the -point north of Rock Harbor.</p> - -<p>"I am glad to see them, for the coming of the Chesterfields at just this -time has mixed things," replied Dory. "We must get rid of the Gildrock, -for we can't do anything dragging her after us. We may have a lively -time of it yet."</p> - -<p>"We can't turn her adrift," added Matt.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span></p><p>"Of course not; but we can put four of our fellows into her and send -her home," said Dory.</p> - -<p>It was promptly decided to dispose of her in this manner, and Dory -selected the three members of the old Goldwing club who were on board, -making Thad Glovering the temporary coxswain. Ben Ludlow was added to -the number. They objected to leaving the Goldwing just as the battle was -coming on.</p> - -<p>"There will be no fight if I can avoid one," argued the skipper. -"Probably we shall pick up the Winooski in about the same way we did the -Gildrock. You need not hurry home, and you can see from the boat all -there is to be seen. But we must be in a hurry, for the job must be done -before the Chesterfields can get down here to meddle with the affair."</p> - -<p>The objections were overcome, and the four oarsmen were to take the -Gildrock as soon as the Winooski could be seen. Tom Topover had got his -craft into the smooth water, as compared with the open lake, of one of -the numerous inlets when the Gildrock was captured. When last seen, his -crew were laying on their oars watching the operations of the Goldwing.</p> - -<p>The schooner was now approaching this inlet,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> and the next minute or two -would inform the skipper where she was. About half an hour had elapsed -since she lost her consort. Tom Topover might have gone to the aid of -the rest of his party, and it was strange that he had not done so. The -fact was that he had been jawing with Kidd Digfield more than half the -time in regard to what they should do. The crew did not like the idea of -going out into the rough water again.</p> - -<p>"There's the Winooski!" shouted Thad Glovering, who was lying on the -half deck at the heel of the bowsprit.</p> - -<p>Dory instantly threw the schooner up into the wind, and Matt hauled in -the Gildrock. Thad and his crew were hurried into her, and the Goldwing -filled away again. The Winooski was coming out of the cove, and was just -striking into the rough water. Dory gave the tiller to Matt, and went -forward himself. He had the lasso ready, but he had his doubts about -being able to use it again.</p> - -<p>The skipper directed Matt to tack at the proper moment, and the Goldwing -rushed on her course in a direction to intercept the Winooski. When Tom -Topover saw the schooner approaching, he called Kidd Digfield to the -tiller-lines, and,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span> taking a boathook in his hand, went forward himself.</p> - -<p>"That fellow means fight," said Oscar Chester.</p> - -<p>"No doubt of it; he means it every time, and for that reason you had -better have a boathook in your hand, and be on the forward deck with -me," answered Dory, as he picked up his lasso. "Keep her off a little -more, if you please, Matt."</p> - -<p>The oarsmen of the Winooski showed a disposition to abandon their oars, -for a collision seemed to be inevitable to them. Tom stood in the bow of -the barge with his boathook poised ready to strike. Dory saw that it -would be impossible for him to lasso the boat, and he removed the stove -cover from his line.</p> - -<p>"Luff a little, Matt," called Dory; and the schooner rounded in upon the -barge. This movement seemed to be too much for Tom's nerves, and instead -of striking with the boathook, he used it to fend off. The moment he -bent over, Dory threw his line, not at the stem of the boat, but at the -body of the Topover. The noose went over his head, and dropped down upon -his shoulders.</p> - -<p>"Keep her off!" shouted Dory.</p> - -<p>The instant Tom felt the rope, he dropped the boathook and tried to -seize hold of the bow of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span> the barge. The Goldwing fell off, and dashed -ahead on her course. Dory let off his line a few feet, and then took a -turn with it over a cleat. Tom Topover suddenly felt a smart jerk, which -was irresistible, and he was twitched out of the boat as a fish is -twitched out of the water.</p> - -<div class="center"><img src="images/i166.jpg" alt="Tom Topover suddenly felt a smart jerk" /></div> - -<p class="bold">"Tom Topover suddenly felt a smart jerk, which was -irresistible."<br />—Page 168.</p> - -<p>With Oscar's help, he was dragged alongside, and pulled on board of the -yacht. It was found that he had the painter of the Winooski in his -hands, which he had grasped in his effort to save himself. Matt had -thrown the schooner up into the wind, and the painter was secured and -made fast. The Winooski brought up at the stern of the Goldwing, -captured by the aid of Tom Topover.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER XVII.</span> <span class="smaller">THE CHESTERFIELDS AND THEIR ALLIES RENEW THE BATTLE.</span></h2> - -<p>Commodore Topover was bewildered by the sharp practice of the skipper of -the Goldwing. While he was expecting an assault in another direction, he -had been suddenly dragged out of the Winooski into the water, and then -on board of the schooner. The painter of the barge was made fast astern, -and Dory relieved the prisoner from the noose with which he had been -captured.</p> - -<p>Kidd Digfield and his companions in the boat seemed to be almost as much -astonished as the commodore. They were paralyzed by the unexpected -onslaught, and the successor of Tom needed a little time to enable him -to determine what to do. Both craft had come to a standstill, the sails -of the Goldwing shaking in the wind.</p> - -<p>Tom Topover was the first to recover his wits. He had been thoroughly -ducked, but he had not been injured in the operation of taking him out -of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> the Winooski. He looked about him, and it did not require much time -to enable him to take in the situation. He was a prisoner in the hands -of the students. He was in the same boat with Dory, who had knocked him -over with a single blow of his fist; and the remembrance of this fact -was the first idea that came to him.</p> - -<p>Before Kidd had decided to do anything the wind had driven the barge -astern of the schooner, and whirled her about. In this position there -were only two things Tom's successor could do; one was to haul the boat -alongside the yacht by the painter, board her, and fight it out; and the -other was to cut the painter, and thus recover possession of the barge. -But Tom Topover considered himself as still the commodore of the fleet, -even in the misfortunes which had befallen it, and he proceeded to use -his authority.</p> - -<p>"Kidd Digfield!" called Tom, as soon as he comprehended the situation. -"Haul in on the painter, and fetch her alongside!"</p> - -<p>"I think your fellows had better not try to do that," interposed Dory.</p> - -<p>"I give you two minutes to put me back in that boat," replied Tom, with -a savage glance at the skipper.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span></p><p>"What if I don't do it?" asked Dory, laughing.</p> - -<p>"I'll give you the biggest licking you ever had in your life. I'll pound -you till you can't see out of your eyes," blustered Tom.</p> - -<p>"You needn't wait two minutes before you begin, for I shall not put you -into the boat," replied the skipper lightly. "Fill away, Matt, if you -please."</p> - -<p>Dory had seated himself in the standing-room opposite the place where he -had deposited Tom when he hauled him on board. As Matt put the helm up, -Tom made a spring at the skipper; but Dory was on his feet in an -instant, warded off the blow of the Topover, and hit him square in the -face. The yacht heeled over at this moment under the pressure of the -wind, and Tom fell back into his seat.</p> - -<p>"We won't have any fight in the boat," said Dory, picking up a reef -pendant. "We will tie his hands behind him, and keep him quiet till we -get rid of him."</p> - -<p>"No you won't tie my hands behind me!" yelled Tom, boiling over with -wrath.</p> - -<p>Oscar Chester sprang upon him, and in spite of his struggles bore him -down upon his back. Dory then assisted him, and between them<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span> they had -no difficulty in putting the commodore in a position of -non-interference.</p> - -<p>"The fellows in the boat are hauling in on the painter," said Matt, when -Dory and Oscar had disposed of the obstreperous prisoner.</p> - -<p>"Let them haul on it," replied the skipper laughing. "They will have a -nice time of it. Keep her away a little more, if you please."</p> - -<p>Kidd had got hold of the painter, and Pell Sankland was trying to help -him; but the former could not haul in enough of the line to afford him a -chance to assist. The schooner had got under full headway, and there was -considerable strain on the rope. Three of the Topovers had repaired to -the bow while the other three were about in the middle of the barge. She -was loaded by the head, and as soon as the Goldwing began to force her -through the water at her own pace, the craft scooped up about half a -barrel of water.</p> - -<p>Kidd was sailor enough to see what the matter was, and he hastily -retreated to the stern of the boat, followed by his companions. Not more -than one of them at a time could get hold of the painter, and there was -no danger that the marauders would haul the boat alongside the schooner. -But Kidd soon went forward again, after he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span> had stationed his crew as -far aft as he could get them, and began to saw away with his knife at -the painter.</p> - -<p>Matt let off the sheets, and kept the Goldwing away several points at -once. As he did so, Dory slacked off the painter as much as its length -would permit. When the schooner straightened the line again, she did it -with a violent jerk, at an angle with the length of the barge. The -effect was to tip the boat until her gunwale at the bow went under, and -she shipped another half barrel of water.</p> - -<p>Kidd's nerves were not strong enough to stand this kind of treatment, -and he dreaded what might come next. He retreated to the stern; but not -till he had found that it would have taken him half an hour at least to -saw off the painter with his dull jack-knife. He realized that there was -nothing more he could do.</p> - -<p>The four-oar boats were now within a short distance of the scene of the -strife. The crews had laid upon their oars most of the time, watching -the progress of the action. The Winooski had been taken, and the battle -was finished. It only remained to dispose of the prisoners. Dory had -given the order to head the schooner to the nearest<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span> land. The four-oar -boats reached the point off which the yacht had just come up into the -wind. Tom was handed into the boat with Mr. Jepson, who was greatly -amused at the exploits of the boys. He was put ashore, but the reef -pendant was removed from his arms only when he was safe on the beach.</p> - -<p>The tender and the other four-oar boat landed the prisoners from the -Winooski, who had concluded not to make any resistance. As the boats -left the discomfited ruffians on the shore, Tom cast a large stone at -one of them, and the rest proceeded to follow his example. But no harm -was done, and the boats were soon out of the way of their missiles.</p> - -<p>"Homeward bound!" shouted Dory, as soon as he had taken his crew from -the tender on board.</p> - -<p>Two oarsmen were taken from each of the small boats, for the remaining -two could easily pull them across the lake with the wind, and -transferred to the Winooski. Thad Glovering in the Gildrock was close -by, for his party had no idea of leaving the scene while there was any -fun in prospect. The whole squadron, consisting of the Goldwing and the -four row-boats, were within talking distance of each other. The battle -had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span> been fought and won, and there was nothing to do but go home. The -Gildrock was farthest out on the lake, and she led the way. All the -fleet were in the smoother water of the cove.</p> - -<p>"The Chesterfields!" shouted Oscar Chester, when the Goldwing was fairly -under way. "They are just coming around the point; and they have half -the Topovers on board."</p> - -<p>"We need not bother our heads any more about the Chesterfields or the -Topovers," replied Dory. "We have got our boats, and that was all I -wanted."</p> - -<p>"All right," added Oscar, as he settled himself in his seat.</p> - -<p>But the skipper soon came to the conclusions that it was not all right. -The Chesterfield barges had changed their course, and were headed for -the four Beech Hill boats which had just started for home. The Dasher -and the Racer were fully manned, while the Gildrock and Winooski had -each only one-third of a crew.</p> - -<p>"That's bad," said Dory, who began to be very anxious for the safety of -the recaptured barges.</p> - -<p>"I thought it might be," replied Oscar. "But I think we can give them -enough of it to satisfy them in a very few minutes."</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span></p><p>"Do you mean a fight?" asked the skipper.</p> - -<p>"Not a hand-to-hand fight, but if either of those barges attempts to -meddle with the Gildrock or the Winooski, I should run her down," -answered Oscar, with a good deal of vim in his tones.</p> - -<p>"I don't like to do anything of that kind," replied Dory, seriously. -"When we smashed the Dasher yesterday, I did not intend to give her such -a rap."</p> - -<p>"I should say it would be for the Chesterfields and their new allies to -elect whether you smash them or not. But they are making for the -Gildrock, and of course they can easily take her from the four fellows -in charge of her."</p> - -<p>"Of course I don't mean to let them take her from our fellows," added -Dory. "Keep her away; run for the Gildrock, if you please, Matt."</p> - -<p>Thad Glovering pulled the stroke oar of the Gildrock, and he had already -discovered the danger that menaced him in the approach of the -Chesterfield barges. He was making his crew do their utmost; but the -barge had been headed off by the enemy, who were not seen until they -came around the point of land.</p> - -<p>The improvement in the rowing of the Chesterfields was not very -manifest. They had evidently<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> being practising since they obtained their -smashed barge from the builder who had repaired it, and it was just as -plain that they had adopted the stroke of the Beach Hill barges.</p> - -<p>"The Topovers are helping them," said Oscar, who watched the Dasher with -the closest attention.</p> - -<p>"I see they are," replied Dory; "and they are making very good headway."</p> - -<p>A Topover had been placed on the thwart with each student as far as -their number would permit. Mad Twinker was in charge of the head boat, -and he was driving his crew to the limit of their power. But the -Goldwing, even in the higher wind near the weather shore, could make two -miles to the Dasher's one. Matt was directed to run close to the quarter -of the Gildrock; and the schooner came up with her not a moment too -soon, for in spite of Thad's best efforts, the Dasher was all ready to -pounce upon her intended victim. The Racer had continued on her former -course, and was making for the Winooski. It was clear that they intended -to capture both boats. When they had done this probably the -Chesterfields would be satisfied that they had got even with the -Beech-Hillers for the humiliation of the day before.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span></p><p>The Goldwing was almost before the wind, and she was surging down upon -the Dasher with tremendous speed and power. The Chesterfields did not -look behind them, and they could not have failed to take notice of the -Winooski's drill on the preceding day. Mad Twinker had no little nerve, -but he was appalled at the rushing, surging, roaring approach of the -Goldwing.</p> - -<p>"Sheer off, or I shall run into you!" shouted Dory, on the half deck of -the schooner. "If you meddle with the Gildrock I'll smash your boat."</p> - -<p>Mad could stand it no longer, and he let go one tiller line, and pulled -on the other with all his might. The Dasher whirled around in obedience -to her helm. The Goldwing came about; Dory hove his long line to the -Gildrock, and she was dragged out into the rough sea, out of the way of -her assailant. But the Winooski was by this time in the same peril, and -the schooner hastened to her assistance.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER XVIII.</span> <span class="smaller">DORY DORNWOOD DEALS IN MORAL COURAGE.</span></h2> - -<p>Wash Barker, the former coxswain of the Racer, had resigned his office -partly because he declined to adopt a policy as vigorous as his -followers desired. Probably his successor possessed the qualities which -Wash lacked. Jeff Monroe had seen the Dasher cheated out of her prey, as -he regarded it, and he knew he was sure to be condemned by his -associates if he failed to capture the Winooski.</p> - -<p>Nim Splugger was in the barge with him, and this worthy assured the -coxswain that Dory would not dare to run into him. It was all bully in -his opinion. The crew expressed their disapprobation in very emphatic -terms at the weakness of Mad Twinker in allowing himself to be cheated -out of his game.</p> - -<p>The Goldwing had been obliged to beat up to the position of the -Winooski, and her approach was not so appalling as when she neared the -Dasher. But she had gone well to windward so<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> as to get a good full, and -she was making at least eight knots when she came within hailing -distance of the Racer. Dory gave the same warning as before, and -repeated it several times. But the Racer did not budge. Her crew were -all ready to leap into the Winooski.</p> - -<p>Dory had fully made up his mind to smash the Racer. A collision would -certainly accomplish her destruction. It was probable that the Goldwing -would bear the barge under her bottom, and thus go over her. The -coxswain and all his crew were very ignorant in regard to the management -of a boat, and could not realize the peril to which they were exposing -themselves.</p> - -<p>Probably most of the crew of the Racer could not swim, and, even if they -could, some of them might be seriously injured if the schooner went over -the barge. There was more than a possibility that one or more lives -might be lost in the encounter. The skipper of the Goldwing shuddered -when he thought of such a catastrophe. At the worst, the Chesterfields -could only capture the Winooski; and that would not kill or hurt anyone. -It was not a case of life and death; in fact it was nothing more than a -frolic on the part of the Chesterfields.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span></p><p>In another instant the Goldwing would strike the Racer, and the -calamity the skipper dreaded must come, either in whole or in part. If -he "backed down," Oscar would laugh at him, and his other companions -would rail at him for timidity. But Dory had the moral courage to brave -any censure or sarcasm rather than expose the lives of the enemy.</p> - -<p>"Down with the helm, Matt!" shouted he with startling energy.</p> - -<p>Matt promptly obeyed, and the sails of the schooner shook in the wind.</p> - -<p>"What did you do that for, Dory?" demanded Oscar Chester, utterly -disgusted at the backing down of the skipper.</p> - -<p>But there was no time to answer the question. Instead of striking the -Racer, the Goldwing was struck by the barge on her broadside. But the -blow came at an angle of about forty-five degrees, and the stem slid off -by the stern. Still it was a hard rap, and the yacht shook under its -force. Doubtless her side was dented and scraped, but she sustained no -injury of any consequence.</p> - -<p>"Keep your places, fellows!" yelled Jeff Monroe, as the rowers began to -stand up and think how they should save themselves, for they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> thought -the barge was smashed in the collision. "We are all right! Keep your -places!"</p> - -<p>The Racer was not injured, but she was thrown from her course, and -brought up with her stern alongside the schooner. Two of her spoon oars -were broken, and two more of them lost overboard, for all the starboard -oars had been swept from the rowlocks by the contact with the yacht. The -crew were in utter confusion, for their discipline was not proof against -such a scene as that which had just transpired.</p> - -<p>"Do you mean to drown us all?" demanded Jeff. "You have made a pretty -mess of it."</p> - -<p>"You act as though you intended to drown yourself and your crew," -replied Dory, as he directed Matt to fill away again.</p> - -<p>"We shall get even with you yet!" retorted Jeff angrily.</p> - -<p>The barge had come about, so that she was now in the trough of the sea, -though the waves were not heavy; but the motion served to increase the -confusion on board of her. The crew obeyed the order of the coxswain to -keep their seats for the simple reason that they could not stand up in -the rolling craft. In a few minutes Jeff had brought something like -order out of the snarl.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span></p><p>The discipline on board proved to be not more than skin deep, for about -every one of the crew had something to say, and a general jaw ensued. -Some of them blamed and scolded their coxswain, and hard words were used -before the Goldwing was out of hearing distance. The first business, -when the grumblers had "talked out," was to pick up the oars and the -pieces; and, by the time this was done, the Winooski was out in the -heaviest of the sea. The Goldwing stood off and on between the fleet she -was protecting and the barges of the Chesterfields. The Dasher had gone -to the assistance of the Racer.</p> - -<p>"What under the canopy made you back down, Dory?" asked Oscar, in a more -gentlemanly tone than he had used before when he alluded to the subject.</p> - -<p>"If one of those fellows had been drowned, I should not have forgiven -myself to my dying day," replied Dory.</p> - -<p>"There was no danger of drowning any of them," added Oscar.</p> - -<p>"I don't believe many of them can swim, and I think the Goldwing would -have gone over the Racer. Some of them might have been disabled, so that -they could not have swum, even if they had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span> known how. In a word my -conscience would not let me run into the barge when it came to the -scratch. Though we may look upon the taking of any of our boats as a -serious thing, after all it was only a frolic on the part of the -Topovers and the Chesterfields. I could not risk killing or drowning a -single one of them. That's the whole of it."</p> - -<p>"It would not have been your fault if one of them had been drowned, or -even half a dozen of them," replied Oscar.</p> - -<p>"I think it would have been. If no one had been drowned or hurt in the -collision, some people would have thought we were smart. If a single -life had been lost, they would have said that the affair was nothing but -a boys' frolic, and that we had no right to proceed to such an extreme -measure as running into the barge half a mile from the shore," argued -Dory. "Those fellows are not used to the water, and half a dozen of them -might have been drowned. I am perfectly satisfied now with what I did."</p> - -<p>"Though I was as much carried away by the excitement of the moment as -any of you, and was in favor of running into the barge, I think you did -just right, Dory," added Matt Randolph, convinced by the skipper's -logic.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span></p><p>"On cool second thought, I am willing to admit that Dory was right," -said Oscar, as he glanced at the Chesterfield fleet. "We saved the -Winooski after all, and that was what we were fighting for."</p> - -<p>"Those fellows have had enough of it for the present," chuckled Matt. -"They are pulling for the point where we landed Tom Topover, and very -likely they are going to pick him up."</p> - -<p>"But we have no further business over here, and we will go home," said -Dory; and Matt headed the Goldwing for the mouth of the river.</p> - -<p>"The Chesterfields will never be content to leave things as they are -now," suggested Oscar. "I know if I were one of them I should try to get -even with you."</p> - -<p>"By and by they will learn to row a boat in a sea, and know something -about handling their craft; and then they will make a visit to Beech -Hill," added Matt.</p> - -<p>"I think we shall be able to take care of ourselves," replied Dory, -shrugging his shoulders like a Frenchman.</p> - -<p>"It looks as though they had formed an alliance with the Topovers, and I -am confident that Tom will never be satisfied until he has had a fight -with Dory and been thoroughly whipped," prophesied<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> Oscar, who was sure -that the skipper could do it "every time."</p> - -<p>With the fresh breeze the four row-boats made good time across the lake, -and were going into the river when the Goldwing dashed past them. This -time Matt brought the schooner up to the wharf without getting aground; -but at the V point, Dory gave him the bearings by which he steered -through this bad place with the current, and was confident that his -friend would never stick there again when he had any kind of fair play.</p> - -<p>Captain Gildrock, with the instructors, were on the wharf when the -Goldwing arrived. The news of the taking of the boats by the Topovers -had been circulated in the town, and the principal was somewhat -disturbed by the occurrence, not especially by the stealing of the -barges, but more by his fears of what might result from a battle between -the students and the marauders. When Bates, who had learned the -particulars from Mr. Jepson, told him that Dory Dornwood was in command -of the expedition which had gone out to recover the boats, he was -somewhat relieved of his anxiety; for he had a great deal of confidence -in the skipper's judgment and discretion, though<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span> there was no knowing -what boys would do when they were excited.</p> - -<p>"Where are the boats, Dornwood?" asked Captain Gildrock, as soon as the -party landed.</p> - -<p>"They are coming up the river, sir," replied Dory.</p> - -<p>"And where are Tom Topover and his gang?"</p> - -<p>"We left them on the other side of the lake." Dory proceeded, without -any further questions, to make his report of the taking of the barges, -and the means by which he had recovered possession of them. He stated -the facts just as they were, without flourish or ornament, even to the -intention they had of smashing the Racer by running into her.</p> - -<p>"I am heartily rejoiced that you did not do anything of that kind!" -exclaimed Captain Gildrock, with a considerable show of emotion for him. -"Nothing could have justified you in resorting to such a desperate -measure, unless it was to save life or honor. If one of those boys had -lost his life, it would have been the ruin of the Beech Hill Industrial -School; for popular opinion would have set against us, and we could not -have stemmed the tide."</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span></p><p>"I was terribly excited when I thought of doing it," pleaded Dory.</p> - -<p>"You have done well, my lad; you have behaved splendidly; but the -biggest and best thing you have done was to renounce a bad intention," -added the principal, earnestly. "I cannot look upon this affair as -anything more than a boys' racket, and I am exceedingly thankful that no -catastrophe has come out of it."</p> - -<p>"Should you excuse the Topovers for stealing the boat on the ground that -it was nothing but a racket, a frolic, something done for the fun of -it?" asked Matt Randolph very seriously.</p> - -<p>"By no means; I would prosecute them for stealing the boats if it were -likely to result in anything but a fine which their poor parents would -have to pay," replied the captain. "No one should do wrong for the fun -of it; but there is such a thing as exaggerating a serious matter beyond -its proper proportions."</p> - -<p>The arrival of the boats ended the conversation. Dinner was ready, and -everything proceeded at the institution in its usual order. The rebels -each dined alone in his room.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER XIX.</span> <span class="smaller">SOMETHING MORE ABOUT THE BEECH HILL REBELLION.</span></h2> - -<p>After dinner the students resumed their study of the plans for the -boat-house and wharf. Some of them went over to the grove in the -afternoon, but nothing more was seen of the Topovers that day. The lake -was too rough to admit of the Chesterfields bringing them over in their -barges. Probably the young gentlemen of the Collegiate Institute got -enough of them before night.</p> - -<p>The next morning the lake was smooth, and the two barges brought the -marauders to the head of Porter's Bay. Some of the Beech Hill students -were in the grove at the time, for it was a quiet place to work on the -plans. Bolly Millweed spent the whole day there, seated on the shore -where he could see the whole water front of the opposite side of the -lake.</p> - -<p>The other students were not deeply absorbed in their study of -architecture, and they observed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span> with interest the landing of the -Topovers. The Chesterfields appeared to be on excellent terms with their -allies, and quite a conference took place between them on the shore. -Doubtless the Beech Hill students were the subjects of the conversation, -for the Topovers frequently pointed in the direction of the estate, and -seemed to be explaining the nature of the locality to their patrons.</p> - -<p>Mad Twinker and Jeff Monroe walked up the hill to the centre of the -grove, where they could see Beech Hill Lake and the school buildings. -But the visitors soon returned to the other side of the lake, and the -Topovers went to their homes. Most of the latter had been truants from -school, and very likely many of them were punished for their misconduct -either by their parents or their teachers.</p> - -<p>Of course a great deal was said by the students at liberty about the -rebels; but those who wore the uniform were emphatic in their -condemnation of those who refused to put it on. The rebels were still -required to stay in their rooms, and their meals were sent in to them. -Each of them had been fitted by the tailor, and had taken his uniform to -his own apartment.</p> - -<p>The principal had sent word to them that, when<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span> they desired to return -to their duties, all they had to do was to put on the uniform and take -their places with their schoolmates. Although they were forbidden to -communicate with one another or with the other members of the school, it -is probable that each one knew what the others were doing.</p> - -<p>The rebellion had not worked as they intended and expected. Lew Shoreham -had been appointed the orator of the malcontents, and the battle was to -be fought out with words in the schoolroom. This was not the principal's -way of dealing with such cases. He gave the "jingo" element no chance at -all.</p> - -<p>On one of the first days of the school he detected a couple of students -in the act of engaging in a fight. Investigation showed that there was -no grievance between the parties, and the battle was to see which was -"the best man." He locked them both up in the machine shop, and gave -them two hours to ascertain which was the best man. With no one to -witness the encounter they did not care to fight, and came out good -friends.</p> - -<p>The rebels could not help feeling that their enterprise had already -"come to grief." Lew Shoreham's argument had been prepared, but it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span> was -unspoken, and was likely to remain so while its author pined in the -solitude of his chamber. The malcontents could not confer together, for -Bates would not allow any two of them to meet in the halls. Bart -Cornwall tried to talk with Lick Milton in the next room, but the -remorseless jailer threatened to put him in the black hole if he said -another word; and he did not.</p> - -<p>Each rebel, therefore, was compelled to think and act for himself. He -could not lean on his leader or his companions. Life Windham was one of -the most restless under his confinement. He liked to know what was going -on, and he found himself shut out from the world and all that was in it. -The principal had begun his announcement of the prizes for the best -plans when the conspiracy broke out. Life concluded that he must have -deferred the business till the rebellion was disposed of, and he -wondered what he had said to the rest of the students about the refusal -to wear the uniform.</p> - -<p>Life fretted and worried over his situation until after dinner of the -second day. Then he went over the whole subject of the uniform in his -own mind. He thought he was abused and persecuted, but he could stand it -no longer. Impulsively he put on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span> the uniform which hung at the head of -his bed. It was a good fit and he thought he looked well in it. He tried -on the cap with the monogram in front. It was neat and plain, and the -only objection he had to it was that it was part of the uniform.</p> - -<p>He was so anxious to learn what was going on at the school, and what the -principal had said about the rebels when they left, that he went out -into the hall. Bates was on his feet the instant the door was opened. -The old man smiled when he saw that Windham wore the uniform, and as the -ex-rebel passed him, he saluted him as politely as though he had never -been his prisoner.</p> - -<p>The dormitory was located near the rocks, at a little distance from the -lake, which could not be seen from its windows. Life Windham knew -nothing at all about the stealing of the boats by the Topovers, and the -lively scenes on the lake in the forenoon. It was after one o'clock, and -the students ought to be in the shops. He went there, but they were -deserted.</p> - -<p>Life concluded that the principal had given the rest of the students a -vacation as a reward of merit for not joining the rebellion. He walked -to the lake. Seated in one of the four-oar boats, busily<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span> engaged in -drawing on a large sheet of brown paper, he found Dory. As -stroke-oarsman the ex-rebel sat next to the coxswain in the Winooski, -and he was more intimate with him than with any other student. When Dory -saw him getting into the boat, he rolled up his drawings, and put a -rubber band around them.</p> - -<p>"Hallo, Dory!" said Life, as he walked aft in the boat.</p> - -<p>"Glad to see you, Life," replied the coxswain. "You look well in the new -uniform."</p> - -<p>"I couldn't stay in my room any longer, but I have not changed my -opinion in regard to making us wear a uniform," added Life, who could -not even now back wholly down. "But what are you doing? Why are the -fellows not in the shops?"</p> - -<p>"One question at a time. I am trying to make a plan for a boat-house. -The principal gave the students three days to get up their plans, and -they are to be handed in day after to-morrow morning."</p> - -<p>"Did the principal offer the prizes?" asked Life, astonished that it had -been done in the absence of the rebels.</p> - -<p>"Of course he did; he had opened the subject before you left the -schoolroom."</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span></p><p>"But I thought he would put it off after one third of the whole school -had left."</p> - -<p>"He don't do things in that way," added Dory.</p> - -<p>"But what are the conditions? Perhaps I am not too late, for I had some -ideas about a plan."</p> - -<p>"We are not allowed to speak to anyone about the plans," answered Dory. -"Every fellow is put on his honor to say nothing to anyone about them."</p> - -<p>"Then the eight fellows that object to being dressed like monkeys are to -be shut out from the competition!" exclaimed Life indignantly. "That is -about as unfair as anything can be."</p> - -<p>"You had the same chance that the rest of us had, and you chose to stay -in your room rather than hear the terms on which the prizes were to be -given."</p> - -<p>"We were standing up for a principle."</p> - -<p>"Whew!" whistled Dory laughing. "The principle that you won't wear the -colors of the Beech Hill Industrial School."</p> - -<p>"The principle that we won't be punished for the sins of others," -retorted Life smartly.</p> - -<p>"You are wrong on the fact, as I have shown you before."</p> - -<p>"It's no use to argue the point with you: if the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span> principal had only -been fair enough to hear what Lew Shoreham had to say, we should have -been fully justified."</p> - -<p>"He never argues the point with those who refuse to obey."</p> - -<p>"No matter. Have you heard anything more from the Chesterfields?"</p> - -<p>"We had a smart brush with them this forenoon," answered the coxswain; -and he proceeded to tell the whole story of the encounter with the -Topovers and their allies.</p> - -<p>Life Windham listened with breathless interest. It was the liveliest -affair of the whole season, and he had been shut up in his room. He was -vexed and indignant that he had not been permitted to take a hand in the -stirring enterprise. When he had finished the narrative Dory wanted to -work on his plan, and Life left him. He found all the other students at -liberty were engaged in the same way.</p> - -<p>Life had to spend the afternoon by himself. Late in the day he saw Bob -Swanton come out of the dormitory with the uniform on. He was just -beginning to ask himself if he had not been a traitor to the "cause," -and to the rebels engaged in it. He was glad to see one of them. Life -was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span> pleased to have a companion, and they talked over the situation.</p> - -<p>"Not the least notice seems to have been taken of us," said Swanton.</p> - -<p>"Not the slightest," added Life. "Why, the principal did not even say a -single word about us after we left the schoolroom, and has not mentioned -us in any way."</p> - -<p>"He is the oddest principal I ever heard of. I suppose he will let the -fellows stay in their rooms all winter," continued Bob Swanton, who had -pluck enough to fight, but not enough to be ignored.</p> - -<p>"I have come to the conclusion that Lew Shoreham ought to have made his -argument when the order to put on the uniform was given," said Life, -rather sheepishly; "for the principal was certainly ready to hear all -the fellows had to say at that time. Lew didn't say a word about -punishing us for the sins of others then."</p> - -<p>"I asked him why he did not, and he said he had not thought of it at -that time."</p> - -<p>But the supper-bell ended the discussion, and the two ex-rebels went to -the house with the other students. Captain Gildrock saw them, but he -made no remark of any kind about their return to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span> duty, or the fact that -they wore the uniform. The rest of the students seemed to be glad to see -them, but they would not allude to the rebellion.</p> - -<p>The next morning. Harry Franklin and Phil Gawner appeared in uniform; -and at night only Lew Shoreham remained a prisoner. The next morning the -plans for the prizes were to be handed in, and when the school had -assembled, quite a number of the students had rolls of drawings in their -hands; but many of them had nothing to show for their three days' study -of architecture and engineering.</p> - -<p>At the appointed hour the principal came in and took his place on the -platform. A moment later Lew Shoreham entered in full uniform, with the -cap in his hand.</p> - -<p>"May I be permitted to make an explanation?" said the last of the -rebels, rising in his seat.</p> - -<p>"In my private office at the close of the school," replied Captain -Gildrock.</p> - -<p>That was not what the chief rebel wanted.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER XX.</span> <span class="smaller">THE VISITING COMMITTEE AT BEECH HILL.</span></h2> - -<p>"I wish to protest——"</p> - -<p>"Take your seat, Shoreham!" interposed the principal very sternly.</p> - -<p>The last of the rebels obeyed, and did not appear to be at all angry or -indignant. Possibly he was about to protest in order to save -appearances. Most of the students smiled as they saw the young orator -deprived of his only chance to plead the cause to which he had been a -martyr for the last three days.</p> - -<p>Captain Gildrock repeated the terms on which the prizes were to be -given, so that there should be no mistake in regard to them. The -ex-rebels listened, though the subject had little interest in the -competition, for they had ruled themselves out of it. Not the remotest -allusion was made to their misconduct.</p> - -<p>"I have invited three gentlemen to spend a few days with me," continued -the principal. "One of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span> them is an architect, another is a civil -engineer, and the third is a salesman in a hardware store in Boston. -They will form the committee to award the prizes for the best plans. -They will arrive this forenoon, and as soon as they come to a decision, -I shall inform you of the result."</p> - -<p>The captain then instructed Mr. Darlingby to receive the plans and make -sure that there was no distinguishing mark on any of them except the -character on the envelope containing the name of the competitor. He was -to retain the envelopes and lock them up in the safe. As a further -precaution he was required to paste a piece of paper over the character -on the plans so that even this could not be seen by the committee.</p> - -<p>The principal then left the schoolroom, declining even to see the rolls -of drawings. As soon as he had gone, sixteen plans were presented. This -was a greater number than the principal had expected. Mr. Darlingby -carried out the instructions given him, and sent the drawings to the -mansion house. The studies of the classes proceeded as usual during the -forenoon.</p> - -<p>The three gentlemen who were expected appeared at dinner, and the -students regarded them with interest. In the afternoon they visited the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span> -shops and inspected the tools and machinery. The first class were now at -work as carpenters, and the second as machinists.</p> - -<p>"As soon as we have decided on the plans, all the students will be -carpenters for a time," said Captain Gildrock, who explained his plans -with considerable enthusiasm to the visitors. "I intend that the -students shall do almost all the work of building the new boat-house, -though I shall have laborers enough to do the lifting and digging."</p> - -<p>"You have excellent tools and machinery in every department," suggested -Mr. Plint, the architect.</p> - -<p>"Good tools do a great deal towards making good workmen," replied the -principal. "Every student has been instructed how to keep his tools in -good order. Of course there is a difference in them so far as skill is -concerned, but everyone can grind a chisel or plane-iron."</p> - -<p>"One of the boys invented a piece of apparatus by which any desired -bevel can be given to a tool at the grindstone," interposed Mr. Jepson, -as he exhibited the machine to the visitors.</p> - -<p>It was simply an iron plate, taken from a useless invention, and set at -the edge of the stone. It<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span> could be adjusted at any angle for a long or -a short bevel. Some of the work done with it was shown, and the guests -said it was as true as could be done by the manufacturers. On a bench -near the grindstone, which was turned by steam, were oil-stones of two -kinds, one rather coarse and the other fine. Lew Shoreham was putting a -chisel in order at one of them.</p> - -<p>"That is the inventor of the grinding apparatus," said Mr. Jepson.</p> - -<p>Shoreham was a lion for the time, and the visitors were introduced to -him. He was highly commended for his inventive power. When he had -finished whetting the chisel, Mr. Plint examined it, and declared that -it was sharp enough to shave with.</p> - -<p>Thus far about all the work done by the students had been in fitting up -the shops, though each one had made a dressing-case for his room. In the -middle and at each end of the carpenters' shop was a case containing -forty-nine small drawers, which had been made by Corny Minkfield, Steve -Baxter and Ned Bellows, who were reckoned the best workmen in the second -class. They were natural mechanics, though they were rather low in -scholarship.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span></p><p>"But do they like to work?" asked Mr. Bridges, the civil engineer.</p> - -<p>"They would work here from the time they get out of bed in the morning -till dark if we would let them," replied Mr. Brookbine. "I don't know -that they are particularly fond of the hard work of sawing and planing, -though we do most of it by machinery. But in every job there is a great -deal of variety; and this makes even the hard work easy. The boys are -all the time studying out how to do it, and this affords them a sort of -excitement which amounts to fascination."</p> - -<p>"What are those trap-doors at the end of each bench?" asked Mr. Ritchie, -the salesman.</p> - -<p>"Those are a device of one of the boys," replied the master carpenter. -"Captain Gildrock rightly insists that the shops shall be kept as neat -as the parlor in the house. Formerly the shavings had to be taken up and -put into barrels, which were conveyed to the engine-room, under the -machine shop."</p> - -<p>Mr. Brookbine pulled a small cord under the bench, which opened one of -the trap-doors. Slipping the cord into a slot, a knot held the cover in -place. Each student was provided with a long and a short handled dust -brush, which were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span> hung up at each end of the bench. He was required -frequently to sweep his chips and shavings down the trap.</p> - -<p>"Phil Gawner is the author of this device. He has also projected a -wooden railroad, by which the shavings can be received into cars under -the traps, and conveyed to the furnace-room. The boys are not mechanics -enough yet to build the cars; but probably it will be done one of these -days."</p> - -<p>"What sort of a machine is that?" asked Mr. Flint, pointing to a piece -of apparatus that hung upon the wall.</p> - -<p>It was a square piece of plank eighteen inches across, in which a -quarter of a circle had been cut out at one corner. In the middle of it -another square piece of plank had been fastened, and on each side of the -quarter circle were two wooden screws.</p> - -<p>"That is an invention of Jim Alburgh. I call it an invention, though -others may have used the same thing, for it is original with this -student," replied Mr. Brookbine. "You see the frames containing the -printed regulations of the school. The boys made these frames. They had -a great deal of difficulty in holding the parts securely while they -nailed the corners. Jim devised<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span> this apparatus. The two parts, when -mitred, are screwed up in this thing, and held together as firmly as -though they had grown into the position."</p> - -<p>Some pieces of plain turning were shown to the visitors, but not much -time had been devoted to the lathes. In this part of the shop were -observed the same tendency to "improve things," and the same skill in -remedying defects, inventing apparatus to secure facility or correctness -in the work. One fellow had devised a plan to prevent a band from -running off the speed-wheels; another had arranged a shelf to hold his -tools while he was at work; and a third had adjusted a marker on his -rest with which he could lay out the distances on his wood.</p> - -<p>"The boys seem to be as much interested as though they were engaged in a -game of base ball," said Mr. Bridges.</p> - -<p>"They would leave a game of base ball any time to work in the shops," -replied Captain Gildrock. "Of course Mr. Brookbine and Mr. Jepson have -to adapt the work to the students, and see that there is variety enough -in it to keep their minds active. If they set them to sawing, planing, -filing or boring iron, simply to learn how to do these things, they -would soon get disgusted.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span> They want to 'make something;' and while they -are doing so, they don't mind the strain on the bones and muscles. I -don't know how they will take to framing the new building, for that is -hard labor, and spruce timber is hard to work."</p> - -<p>"With good tools in good order they will do very well; and building the -house is a big thing for boys to do," added the master carpenter. "By -the way, we have no framing tools."</p> - -<p>"You are not a drummer, Mr. Ritchie, but I dare say you will take an -order when you return," added the principal, laughing.</p> - -<p>"Always ready to sell goods," replied the salesman. "I have no samples -of the goods you want," added Mr. Ritchie.</p> - -<p>"All our tools and machinery came from Wilkinson's, and I am willing to -buy without seeing a sample," continued Captain Gildrock.</p> - -<p>The shipmaster had made the acquaintance of John Ritchie while -purchasing the tools and machinery for the school. He was a model -salesman, and the captain had taken a great fancy to him. He had invited -him to spend his vacation at Beech Hill, and as an excuse for paying his -travelling expenses, he had invited him to serve on the committee to -award the prizes.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span></p><p>"What tools do we need, Mr. Brookbine?" asked the principal. "I thought -you gave me lists of all that would be wanted."</p> - -<p>"When I did so I had no idea that the boys would ever have occasion to -frame a building. The first things we want are a steel square and -compasses for each student, for I intend to have the boys lay out the -work as well as do it; that is, after the general plan for framing the -house is arranged. Everyone must learn to use the square and compass."</p> - -<p>"Square and compasses," added the captain, laughing. "We use a compass -on board of a vessel."</p> - -<p>"You are right, captain; the dividers are properly compasses, and they -ought always to be called so to distinguish them from the marine -instrument, but many carpenters use the word in the singular form. The -square and compasses, with a set of framing chisels and a few more heavy -mallets than we have, will be all the different articles we shall need."</p> - -<p>Captain Gildrock gave the order at once, and Mr. Ritchie wrote it down. -After a survey of the schoolroom and the dormitory, the visitors were -taken to the lake. Bates pulled them over to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span> grove and they -carefully looked over the shores on both sides in preparation for the -examination of the plans. The next morning they engaged in their work -upon the plans submitted. The master carpenter and the master machinist -were added to the committee at the request of the visitors. The -following day was Saturday, and a grand excursion around Lake Champlain -was arranged for the guests.</p> - -<p>After breakfast the students put on their steamer uniform, and took -their stations on board of the Sylph. The visitors were greatly amused -as well as delighted when they saw the students in their places on -board. The attentive scholar of the schoolroom, the inventor in the -workshops had become a cook, a waiter, a pilot, or a deck hand. Mr. -Plint insisted that it was all decidedly funny.</p> - -<p>They looked with wonder at Oscar Chester at the wheel in the -pilot-house, where he had the helm alone. But he knew what he was about, -though Dory Dornwood, the first pilot, kept a close watch upon the -movements of the steam yacht. The dinner was not only elaborate but -excellent; and the visitors returned to Beech Hill deeply impressed by -what they had seen.</p> - -<p>On Monday morning they were ready to report on the plans.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER XXI.</span> <span class="smaller">THE ORATOR OF THE REBELS OBTAINS A HEARING.</span></h2> - -<p>The students gathered in the schoolroom as usual on Monday morning. -There was no little excitement, even among those who had no interest in -the prizes, for it had been announced that the awards would be made at -this time. So closely had every student who had any ideas in regard to -the plan or location kept them to himself, that no one could even make a -guess as to who would get the prizes.</p> - -<p>"We have found some merit in all the plans," said Mr. Plint, who was the -chairman of the committee. "We agreed that it was a tremendous -undertaking for young gentlemen under twenty to plan a wharf and a -building, and it was hardly to be expected that a single one of their -efforts would be acceptable. But all have had the benefit of the thought -and study the subject has given them, and the unsuccessful ones may reap -a harvest in the future from it of a thousandfold more value than the -prizes.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span></p><p>"We are unanimous in our conclusion, and we come to the award without -any doubt or hesitation. It is no discredit to the students to say that -the plans to which the prizes were awarded were the only ones which were -practicable. In some the building was twice as large as necessary, with -a large portion of the space within it wasted. In others it would cost a -million dollars to carry out the ideas of the competitor.</p> - -<p>"In one it would be impossible for the steamer to come up to the wharf -without backing on a stern-line. One did not put a single window in his -building, even for the hall; and another supplied no stairs by which the -second story could be reached. In one instance, the dressing-rooms could -only be reached by going up stairs, and passing through the hall.</p> - -<p>"But some of the plans which contain the greatest defects also include -some of the most meritorious features. The successful plan for the -boat-house and the one for the wharf and location are admirably fitted -to each other. The committee visited the locality, and carefully -examined the natural structure of the land and the depth of water. The -fortunate competitor has taken advantage of the formation of the shore -for the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span> wharf and the docks for the row-boats; but it would be -impossible to erect the buildings according to most of the plans."</p> - -<p>"Was the plan for the building that fitted this location best selected -for that reason, sir?" asked Ben Ludlow.</p> - -<p>"A pertinent question, young gentleman," replied Mr. Plint, with a -smile. "The committee awarded the prize for the building before they -considered or even looked at the plans for the wharf and location. We -decided upon the merits of the plan for the boat-house so that its -fitness for the locality might not influence us. I need not say anything -more, except to repeat that all the plans, in spite of the defects that -may be found in them, contain much that is creditable to amateur -architects and engineers."</p> - -<p>As he finished his remarks, he handed two rolls of drawings to the -principal. The students gazed at them eagerly, but there was nothing -about them which enabled any student to determine to whom they belonged. -A kind of buff wrapping-paper was provided for rough drawings, and, as -all the scholars had used this article, the rolls were just alike.</p> - -<p>"I am satisfied that the committee have acted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span> with the utmost fairness, -though I have not been present at any of their sessions," said Captain -Gildrock.</p> - -<p>"I wish to say for myself and Mr. Jepson, that we have not the remotest -suspicion to whom the prizes have been awarded," interposed Mr. -Brookbine. "The handwriting of the boys is so nearly the same thing that -it gave us no clew to the winner."</p> - -<p>"If any student has any objections to make to the fairness of this -transaction, now is the time, and the only time there will be, to make -them," added the principal.</p> - -<p>At this remark Lew Shoreham rose from his seat, and the boys wondered if -he intended to deliver the oration he had prepared as a protest against -a uniform.</p> - -<p>"I am sorry to feel obliged to object—not, I beg to say, in the most -emphatic manner,—to the fairness of the committee," the last of the -rebels began, pluming himself for a speech which promised, as usual, to -be of considerable length. "Our honored principal was kind enough to say -the 'fairness of this transaction,' from which I infer that the whole -subject of the plans and prizes is included."</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span></p><p>"Certainly," added the principal rather brusquely, as though he -understood what was coming. "But you must confine yourself to the -subject now before the school."</p> - -<p>"That is my intention," replied Shoreham, with a polite bow to the head -of the school. "The objection I feel compelled to make is, that nearly -one third of the school—eight out of twenty-six, to speak with -mathematical accuracy—have been shut out from the competition."</p> - -<p>Mr. Bridges had to stuff half his pocket handkerchief into his mouth to -ward off an outburst of laughter at the high-flown speech of the -speaker, and the other members of the committee were equally amused, -though their risibles were more controllable.</p> - -<p>"Eight of the students of this useful institution, some of whom had -ideas in the sublime science of architecture, and in the equally -important subject of civil engineering, were prevented from embodying -those ideas in the form of plans, and presenting them for consideration -in this competition," Shoreham proceeded, evidently believing that he -had produced a sensation in the committee.</p> - -<p>"What prevented them from competing for the prizes, Shoreham?" asked the -matter-of-fact <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span>principal, who had not a great stock of patience under -the infliction of a high-flown speech.</p> - -<p>"The eight students alluded to unfortunately differed from the authority -of the school, and from a majority of their fellow-students, in a matter -relating to the discipline of the institution. They were sentenced to -confinement in their several apartments. While they were thus -compulsorily absent from the usual assemblage of the students"—</p> - -<p>Mr. Bridges could stand it no longer; the handkerchief failed as a -preventive, and he had to indulge in a fit of audible laughter, in which -the other members of the committee politely joined.</p> - -<p>"This was a solemn and important matter to the students alluded to," -continued Shoreham, with the utmost seriousness, for he could not tell, -for the life of him, what the fat civil engineer was laughing at. "It -involved their rights and privileges. While they were thus excluded, by -authority which they were too loyal to disregard"—</p> - -<p>"And Bates was too vigilant to permit them to disregard," the principal, -now as much amused as his guests, interjected.</p> - -<p>"Without introducing any unnecessary details,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span> I need only say that the -eight students, whose deportment was usually unobjectionable, and who -habitually discharged with fidelity their obligations to the institution -and its respected founder, were excluded, by authority, from the -particular assemblage of the pupils in which the prizes were offered for -the plan and location. The other students were forbidden to speak with -any persons in regard to the plans, and the eight were unable to obtain -the terms of the offer, and were thus circumstantially shut out from the -competition. For myself and the other students who were thus unjustly -excluded, I wish to protest against the award about to be made, and to -suggest that the offer be repeated, so that the eight may have the -opportunity to stand on the same footing as their fellow-students."</p> - -<p>"As I am charged with injustice and unfairness, I should like to have -the committee settle this question," said Captain Gildrock, who appeared -to be in an unusual mood for him, for he was laughing as merrily as the -stout civil engineer. "I will agree to abide by your decision, -gentlemen."</p> - -<p>"For myself and my associates whom I represent, I assent to this -magnanimous proposition," replied Shoreham.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span></p><p>From motives of delicacy the committee objected to deciding the matter, -but, at the request of the captain, they finally consented, regarding -the whole business as a farce rather than a matter of serious -importance. The students were rather impatient, for they wanted to know -to whom the prizes had been awarded, and most of the rebels were -satisfied that they had been in the wrong.</p> - -<p>Shoreham had already stated the question, and the chairman, declaring -that they understood it perfectly, declined to allow Shoreham to make -another speech.</p> - -<p>"You were shut up in your room, and could not find out the terms of the -offer; that's the whole thing in a nutshell, isn't it?" said Mr. -Bridges, turning to the orator of the rebels.</p> - -<p>"The question you ask, sir, naturally and logically involves the reason -why we were confined to our apartments," replied Shoreham,—and this -seemed to be the place where the oration could be properly introduced.</p> - -<p>"Dry up, Lew!" called Windham, in a whisper loud enough to be heard by -all in the room, calling forth a burst of laughter.</p> - -<p>"If we were properly and justly incarcerated"—</p> - -<p>Mr. Bridges exploded again.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span></p><p>"Never mind that, Mr. Shoreham," interposed the chairman of the -committee.</p> - -<div class="center"><div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<div>"No rogue e'er felt the halter draw</div> -<div>With good opinion of the law,"</div> -</div></div></div> - -<p>chuckled the civil engineer.</p> - -<p>"We were acting on principle, sir," said Shoreham warmly.</p> - -<p>"Exactly so!" exclaimed the jolly Mr. Bridges. "Let me tell you of a -terrible outrage inflicted on one of my neighbors in a small town in -another State. His name was on the voting-list, but when the day of -election came, he was not allowed to vote. He was robbed of the dearest -right of an American citizen. He was ruthlessly debarred from -constitutionally expressing his choice for a governor of the State. -Wasn't it awful?"</p> - -<p>"I should say that it was an outrage, as you called it in the beginning. -But why was he debarred from his right?" asked the orator.</p> - -<p>"He was shut up in the house of correction," laughed the fat -committee-man.</p> - -<p>"Oh, for some crime!" exclaimed the representative of the rebels.</p> - -<p>"That depends upon how you look at it. He did not regard that for which -he was shut up as a crime; in fact, he was acting on principle,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span> -chuckled the jolly disputant. "He claimed that it was right to sell -liquor, though the law of the State made it a crime. At any rate, his -business was such that he could not leave, even to vote. His case was -just like yours, only a great deal worse, Mr. Shoreham."</p> - -<p>The students indulged in a round of hearty applause, and the orator -found it utterly impossible to meet the argument contained in this -parallel case. He subsided. Captain Gildrock was satisfied with the -decision of the committee, and so were all the students, with the -possible exception of Shoreham. The papers that covered the characters -on the two rolls were removed by Mr. Darlingby, and the same one -appeared on both of them.</p> - -<p>"Both prizes have been awarded to the same student, I see," said the -principal, while the instructor went for the envelopes.</p> - -<p>The character was the Greek letter Beta, and the two envelopes, thus -indorsed, were handed to the principal. There was intense excitement -when he opened them.</p> - -<p>"Bolingbroke Millweed," Captain Gildrock read from the enclosures of -both, and a round of applause followed.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER XXII.</span> <span class="smaller">BOLLY EXPLAINS HIS PLANS FOR THE BOAT-HOUSE AND WHARF.</span></h2> - -<p>Bolingbroke Millweed was a good scholar and a fair mechanic, but both -instructors and students were astonished when both prizes were awarded -to him. He had formerly been a "swell," but he had entirely recovered -from the malady which made him such. Only a few weeks before he was too -proud to work with his hands.</p> - -<p>His pride, or rather vanity, had kept down his manhood, and made of him -what the genuine boy called a "donkey." His father had become the "head -of the family," at home, and introduced a new order of things. The two -sons were in the Beech Hill School, and the two girls were not only -earning their own living, but were doing a great deal towards the -support of the family.</p> - -<p>The new order of things had placed Bolly, as everyone called him, on his -own proper level. It had developed faculties which had been <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span>dormant, -and made him a useful as well as a sensible young man. The result of the -competition proved that he had talent of a high order, and that the -industrial school was bringing it out.</p> - -<p>Bolly was fairly popular among his associates, though there was nothing -magnetic about him. He was not likely to become a leader among men, but -Mr. Plint thought he had the right kind of ability to make a good -architect. The practical education he was now receiving was exactly what -he needed. While he was learning to draw, he was also obtaining a -knowledge of practical carpentry and work in metals, as well as an -insight into other trades.</p> - -<p>The boys had given the successful competitor a liberal demonstration of -applause, which proved that they had no ill-will or jealousy; of if they -had, they were ashamed to manifest it. The excitement had been intense, -and it did not seem to moderate after the prizes had been awarded. The -students wanted to know all about the plans and the location, and how -the wharf was to be built.</p> - -<p>Captain Gildrock took from his pocket a couple of fifty-dollar bills, -and laid them on the desk, and Bolly was called to the platform. Another -round<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span> of applause greeted him, and the principal did not object to it. -The victor was formally introduced to each of the visitors, who took him -by the hand and congratulated him upon his success. Mr. Bridges said he -could not help laughing when he thought of the triumphant architect -doing duty as third fireman in the hold of the Sylph.</p> - -<p>"If this boy should happen to become an architect in the future, do you -suppose that what he learns in the fireroom of the steamer will be any -disadvantage to him?" said the principal.</p> - -<p>"On the contrary, I think what he learns in any capacity will be of -immense value to him," replied the civil engineer earnestly. "In fact, -it would be worth all it cost in any calling."</p> - -<p>"I noticed that this young gentleman's brother was first cook," added -Mr. Plint. "I have often had to get up designs and make drawings for -hotels, prisons, insane asylums, and other buildings in which a kitchen -was a very important apartment. Now, I am sure, if I had ever been a -cook I should have been better fitted to manage the details of such a -department."</p> - -<p>"An eminent surgeon told me he was sorry he had not learned to be a -carpenter or a machinist after he graduated from college, for a -knowledge<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span> of these arts would make him a better surgeon," Mr. Bridges -remarked.</p> - -<p>"Now, Millweed," continued the principal, "the students want to know all -about your plans,"—and this observation was greeted with a clapping of -hands. "I propose that you shall tell them yourself, and explain your -plans in full." This remark was applauded. "There is a large, clean -blackboard behind you, and you may do it in your own way."</p> - -<p>"I am no orator, as Brutus is," replied Bolly, blushing.</p> - -<p>"Brutus Shoreham!" exclaimed one of the boys, and all the assembly -laughed; and from that time the last of the rebels was called Brutus by -the students oftener than anything else.</p> - -<p>"I am afraid I can't speak well enough to make myself understood," said -Bolly, as he looked nervously at the blackboard and then at the -students.</p> - -<p>"You need not declaim it; only tell what your plans are, just as you -would explain them to one of your companions over in the grove," added -Captain Gildrock, encouragingly.</p> - -<p>"I will try, sir. Shall I explain the building, or the location first," -asked Bolly.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span></p><p>"Suit yourself, Millweed."</p> - -<p>"Then I will begin with the location," replied the successful -competitor, as he took a crayon and turned to the blackboard, where he -rapidly sketched the shore-line of the northeast corner of Beech Hill -Lake.</p> - -<p>This part of the lake formed a considerable bay, abreast of which was -the school building and shops, while the dormitory was near the rocks at -the foot of Beech Hill. About one third of the way across the lake was a -low peninsula, whose surface was nearly flat, and not more than three -feet above the usual level of the lake. This point projected out into -the lake about ten rods, and formed the western shore of the -bay,—called by the boys Hornet Bay, on account of a quarrel some of -them had had with insects of that name, in which the hornets got the -better of them.</p> - -<p>"This is Chowder Point," Bolly began, indicating with the pointer the -projection of rocks, which had formerly been much used for picnic -purposes. "This is the location I have chosen for the boat-house."</p> - -<p>"Why didn't you put it on the other side of the lake?" asked one of the -students, who thought it was too far from the old wharf.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span></p><p>"Chowder Point is just the same distance from the shop and schoolroom -as the old wharf, and only half the distance from the dormitory," -replied Bolly, with patient dignity.</p> - -<p>"And about the same distance from the mansion-house," added the -principal. "I must ask the students not to interrupt the speaker, and -not to ask any more questions until he has finished his explanation."</p> - -<p>While the captain was making this remark, Bolly dashed off a -parallelogram, rather more than twice as long as it was wide. It covered -the end of Chowder Point, the extremity of which extended a short -distance outside of it.</p> - -<p>"This figure represents the location of the boat-house," continued -Bolly, using the pointer. "You observe that about one third of the -building is on the land, or rocks, and the rest of it is over the -water."</p> - -<p>"But where does the wharf come in?" asked an excited student.</p> - -<p>"No questions!" interposed the principal. "You need not answer it, -Millweed."</p> - -<p>"I shall come to the wharf in a few minutes," replied Bolly. "The main -building, represented by this parallelogram, is to be ninety-one feet -long<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span> by thirty-one feet wide,—rather narrow for the length, you will -say; but the proportions will be improved a little before I finish."</p> - -<p>The speaker took the crayon and marked off the docks for the barges. -They opened at the south end of the structure, into Hornet Bay. He had -made the inner ends of the two docks something in shape of the bows of -the boats, so that the idea could be better obtained by the listeners.</p> - -<p>"These docks are fifty-four feet long, and nine feet wide. The space -between them is a platform six feet wide. Next to the walls of the -building on each side is a platform three feet wide. You will see that I -am giving you the plan of the building as well as the location; but this -seems to be the most natural way to do it."</p> - -<p>Bolly then drew a section of the structure, looking at the south end of -it. At the lower part on each side four feet were added to the breadth -of the house, increasing it to forty feet, with the allowance for the -thickness of the sides. But this addition was only one fourth of the -whole height of the house. It had a slanting roof, making the addition -what used to be called a "lean-to."</p> - -<p>The excitement of the boys increased as Bolly advanced with his plans, -and they wondered what<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span> this narrow strip on each side of the building -could mean. They wanted to ask questions, and it was hard work for them -to keep from bursting out into a volley of inquiries. The amateur -architect drew a great many lines across this narrow addition, which -tended to throw some light on the mystery. But the added strips looked -very like a couple of ladders.</p> - -<p>"These are the dressing-rooms," Bolly proceeded, when he had finished -this part of the drawing. "There are forty of them, as required in the -terms, and each of them is four feet by three. From each a door opens to -the outside platforms on the docks."</p> - -<p>At this point the students took it all in, and a round of applause -greeted this feature, which the boys thought was an admirable one. The -oarsmen could come out of the dressing-rooms in which they had put on -their uniforms, and step directly into the barges.</p> - -<p>"These additions to the sides are only six feet high at the eaves and -seven at the walls. The lower story of the boat-house is twelve feet -high. This leaves five feet of space above the roof of the -lean-to,—that's what my father calls the L of his house. In this space -are to be ten windows on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span> each side. There are also four windows over -the doors at the end of the boat-house by which the barges are to be -admitted."</p> - -<p>"I think your building will be well lighted, Mr. Millweed," interposed -Mr. Plint, thinking the speaker appeared to have some doubts on this -point.</p> - -<p>"Thank you, sir," replied Bolly, much gratified at the architect's -approval. "Six feet from the inner ends of the docks will be a fence, -with a gate opposite each platform," continued the speaker, indicating -it by a dotted line. "The dressing-rooms end at this fence. Then there -is a passage-way ten feet wide across the house. At the shore end of it -is the principal entrance."</p> - -<p>Bolly then divided the space on the plan north of this passage-way into -four parts, and said they were the two storerooms, the sailroom, and the -paint shop. Against the sides at this end of the structure he made two -more additions, wider than the others. The one on the shore side was for -the stairs to the hall; the other was for one of the four-oar boats; and -a third was run along the water part of the north end for the other. -Bolly explained these features of the plan at some length.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span></p><p>"The wide passageway through the building from the main entrance to the -water side of the building leads to the wharf," continued the speaker, -pointing to it on his drawing. "You will observe that the great doors on -the water side are in the middle of the tip end of Chowder Point. The -rock extends only four feet outside of it.</p> - -<p>"The wharf is to be in the form of the letter T," Bolly proceeded, -drawing this pier in the place where his plan located it. "The cross -part, or top of the T, is to be sixty feet from the boat-house, and is -to be reached by a wooden bridge ten feet wide, with a single span of -fifty-six feet. The landing part of the wharf is a huge caisson, or box, -sixty feet long by twelve feet wide, which is to be built at the shore, -floated to the place where it is to be located, and sunk with rocks; and -the bottom of the lake at this place is almost parallel with the surface -of the water."</p> - -<p>The students were filled with wonder by these last details.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER XXIII.</span> <span class="smaller">VOLLEYS OF QUESTIONS ASKED AND ANSWERED.</span></h2> - -<p>Bolingbroke finished his explanation without any flourish, and when he -had done he stopped, which all orators are not able to do. He was about -to take his seat when the volley of questions was discharged at him; and -the principal was obliged to interpose so that the inquiries could be -dealt with one at a time.</p> - -<p>"You need not answer any question, Millweed, unless you are willing to -do so," he added.</p> - -<p>"I am perfectly willing," said Bolly. "I suppose they have all found -some objections to my plans, and I should rather like to hear them. Very -likely some of the fellows will put questions that I cannot answer, and -I don't believe I shall be able to get over all the objections that will -be made."</p> - -<p>"I should like to know what the three corners of the boat-house that are -over the water are to rest upon," said Will Orwell, when a system of -conducting the discussion had been arranged.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span></p><p>"The bottom of the lake is flat rock like the shore. As the water is -only from four to four and a half feet deep where the corners come, it -will be easy enough to set stone posts on the bottom, not only at the -corners, but in as many places as may be necessary," replied the -architect.</p> - -<p>"Such posts would weigh at least a ton apiece, and I should like to know -how we are to handle them," added Will Orwell. "One corner is over sixty -feet from the shore, and we have nothing to stand on."</p> - -<p>This was just the kind of question the principal liked to have come -before the boys, for it assisted in developing their ingenuity, their -ability to devise expedients for overcoming difficulties.</p> - -<p>"I could mention several ways of doing it," replied Bolly, with a -confident smile; "but I will name only the one I thought to be the best -for our case. We are to build a caisson, or box, sixty by twelve for the -wharf, if my plan is adopted. I propose to build this box first, and use -it as a sort of scow or stage in the erection of the boat-house. We need -not make the sides more than four feet high at first. We can put some -timbers across it, on which a derrick can be placed."</p> - -<p>"Excellent!" exclaimed the fat civil engineer.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span></p><p>"But how will you get the stone posts from the quarry to the derrick," -continued Will. "We have no vessel in which they can be carried."</p> - -<p>"With the timbers to be used in raising the wharf to the required -height, we can make a raft on which two or three of the posts can be -floated at a time. It can be towed by the Sylph," answered Bolly, who -had evidently been over all these details.</p> - -<p>"But you can't set these posts under water. If they don't happen to -stand plumb, I don't see how you can help yourself," suggested Luke -Bennington.</p> - -<p>"But we can help ourselves, even if we have to ask the principal to send -to Boston or New York for a submarine diver who knows how to lay stone," -said Bolly. "I should be willing to take the job of setting the posts -plumb without any outside assistance except the stone-cutters at the -quarry. The bottom is nearly level, and we can obtain the exact pitch by -measuring. We can cut a flat rock to fit the bottom."</p> - -<p>"There is still another way," interposed Mr. Bridges.</p> - -<p>"I have thought of a coffer-dam," added Bolly, glancing at the visitor.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span></p><p>"Exactly so; that is what I was thinking about," laughed the civil -engineer.</p> - -<p>"What's a coffer-dam?" demanded Dave Winslow.</p> - -<p>"There are several ways to make one," answered Bolly. "We could make an -island by filling in earth: then dig out a hole in it the same as we -should for a foundation on shore. Another way is to sink a wooden or -iron caisson, or box, to the bottom, where it would have to be puddled -with clay. Then it would be necessary to pump out the water. When this -is done we should have a chance to set the posts just as we should do it -on shore."</p> - -<p>"It seems to me you don't hit on the easiest and simplest way of doing -the job," interposed Mr. Brookbine. "How high will the posts of the -boat-house be, Bolly?"</p> - -<p>"About thirty feet."</p> - -<p>"Very well; rest the posts on the bottom of the pond, where they will -have a good foundation," added the master carpenter. "If you take a -stick of timber and set it up endways in deep water, one half of it will -be below the surface; and in four feet of depth nearly the whole weight -of the stick would rest on the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span>bottom. It seems to me this is the -simplest way to do it!"</p> - -<p>The boys looked at Bolly, and their expression seemed to say, "We have -got you now!" But the amateur architect smiled as confidently as ever.</p> - -<p>"That plan would do very well in Florida or the West Indies," he -replied; whereat the corpulent civil engineer laughed out loud.</p> - -<p>"Why not in Vermont?" demanded the carpenter, wondering what Mr. Bridges -was laughing at.</p> - -<p>"We sometimes have the thermometer twenty degrees below zero, and under -the new boat-house the water may freeze to the bottom. When the ice -expands, it will be likely to give three corners of the boat-house a -lift which the fourth will not get on the solid rock shore. If all the -posts were in the water it would be better."</p> - -<p>Mr. Brookbine laughed with the civil engineer then, and admitted that he -had not thought of the ice.</p> - -<p>"But I think it would cost more to stand the posts, thirty feet high, on -the ends in the water than it would to build the caissons for -coffer-dams," added Mr. Bridges. "I suppose you will<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span> raise the building -in sections, but you must have something to hold on to in the water, and -sink the ends of the posts to the bottom."</p> - -<p>"Now, Millweed, you have mentioned several ways of managing the posts in -the water, I wish to ask which of these ways you think is the best one," -said Captain Gildrock.</p> - -<p>"The stone posts," replied Bolly promptly. "With only about four feet of -water I think there will be no difficulty in chinking them up at the -bottom."</p> - -<p>For an hour longer the boys continued to ask questions, and Bolly was -not caught in anything, though it is probable that the architect or -civil engineer could easily have tripped him up if they had chosen to do -so. But the principal announced the suspension of the school for the -rest of the forenoon, in order to convey the visitors to Whitehall in -the steamer.</p> - -<p>Captain Gildrock took up the two fifty-dollar bills he had laid upon the -desk, and turned to the successful competitor, who had been requested to -remain on the platform.</p> - -<p>"As I said in the beginning, I cannot allow the money obtained for the -plans to be fooled away, for one of the most important lessons an -American<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span> boy ought to learn is how to take care of and use money, as -well as how to earn it. What do you intend to do with the hundred -dollars, Millweed?" asked the principal.</p> - -<p>"I shall give it to my father," replied Bolly without any hesitation.</p> - -<p>"That is an excellent use to make of it, and I hand it over to you -without asking any more questions," added the principal, suiting the -action to the words.</p> - -<p>A round of applause saluted Bolly again. He had gone up a hundred -degrees in the estimation of his companions, who had been unable to -corner him with their questions. The order was given for the boys to put -on their steamer uniform, and take their stations on board of the Sylph. -Bates had already got up steam, and a plentiful supply of provisions had -been put on board. In half an hour the steam yacht departed, and -everything on board of her went along in as good order as though she had -been a regular packet on the lake. The passengers were to dine on board, -and cooks and stewards went to work in their departments at once.</p> - -<p>The excursion was a very pleasant one, and the guests spent most of the -time on the way up<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span> in talking with the boys in regard to what they had -learned at the school. They were delighted with the institution, and Mr. -Bridges declared that the States could not do better than to establish -such schools in place of some of those in which Greek and Latin were the -principal branches taught.</p> - -<p>Mr. Plint pointed out to the principal a few details in which he thought -Bolly's plan could be improved, and after making these alterations he -intended to erect the building at once.</p> - -<p>"But you do not expect those boys to do all the work?" suggested Mr. -Ritchie.</p> - -<p>"I expect them to do nearly the whole of it. When I return I shall set -the quarrymen to getting out the stone posts. I shall go to Burlington -at once, for Brookbine is arranging the plan for framing the building, -and will give me a list of the lumber needed, and purchase it. The boys -will tow it down in rafts, though I shall employ a number of laborers, -for I don't wish to let the boys injure themselves."</p> - -<p>"But it will take a long time to put up and finish the building," added -Mr. Bridges.</p> - -<p>"I don't expect to have it completed until next spring. We shall finish -the outside by <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span>December, and make a winter's job of the inside work."</p> - -<p>At Whitehall the visitors, except Mr. Ritchie, took their leave of the -boys, and went on shore, promising to come again the next season. The -students gave them three cheers as they landed, and then the Sylph began -her homeward trip. As she passed Sandy Beach Cove, the barges of the -Chesterfields were seen pulling out from the shore. It was soon evident -that they wished to speak with those on board of the steamer. Oscar -Chester, the second pilot, at the request of the principal, rang to stop -her, and the Dasher came up to the forward gangway.</p> - -<p>"I should like to speak to the coxswains of the barges," said Mad -Twinker, who appeared to be the commodore of the fleet.</p> - -<p>"I am the coxswain of the Gildrock," replied Matt Randolph, at a nod -from the principal.</p> - -<p>"We have two boats like yours, and we have been learning to row," said -Mad Twinker. "We think we can pull pretty well now, though there is room -for improvement, we grant. We desire to extend to you a friendly -invitation to row with us for a suitable prize."</p> - -<p>"Young man," interposed Captain Gildrock, "I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span> cannot allow the Beech -Hill students to row with you at present."</p> - -<p>"Why not, sir?" asked Mad Twinker, apparently astonished at this -interference.</p> - -<p>"Although they are likely to become mechanics, most of them, I wish them -to be gentlemen at the same time, and I am rather careful with whom I -allow them to associate."</p> - -<p>"But we claim to be gentlemen, sir," exclaimed Mad, indignantly.</p> - -<p>"The claim is not admitted. When our boys first saw you the other day -you called them 'members of the Tinkers' Institute,' 'chip-makers,' -'greasers,' and many other offensive epithets. You stole their clothes -while they were in the water, and since that you attempted with your -associates, the Topovers, to steal our boats. When you have learned to -be true gentlemen, I will withdraw all objection. Go ahead, pilot!"</p> - -<p>The commodore of the barge fleet wanted to discuss the matter, but the -Sylph steamed away before he had a chance to get in a word. Ben Ludlow -thought they were even with the Chesterfields then, and in half an hour -the boys were looking over the site of the boat-house and wharf.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER XXIV.</span> <span class="smaller">THE NEW CAPTAIN OF THE SYLPH.</span></h2> - -<p>Mr. Brookbine had been hard at work over the plan of the building in -getting the amount of timber required for the frame. Captain Gildrock -had assured him that no material change would be made in the drawing of -Bolly. They might alter the arrangement of the store-rooms, and use a -portion of the immense vestibule on the second floor for a library, or -committee-room.</p> - -<p>Bolly had suggested a gallery or balcony on the water side of the second -story, which might be added, but none of these changes would affect the -frame. When the captain had returned from Whitehall the master carpenter -gave him the list of timber required for the frame.</p> - -<p>The granite quarry in the rear of Beech Hill was owned by the -shipmaster, and about all the building-stone used in Genverres was taken -from it. The owner did not care to be bothered with it, and a quarryman -managed it, paying so much a cubic foot for all the stone taken out of -it.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span></p><p>Thirteen stone posts would be required for the water-foundations of the -boat-house, and Captain Gildrock rode to the quarryman's house at once -to order them. Early the next morning the principal went to Burlington, -and ordered the lumber. Before breakfast, Bolly, assisted by the other -students, staked out the building. The approximate positions of the -foundation posts were indicated by mooring sticks with stones in the -bay. But the lessons went on as usual, and the boating and swimming -exercises were not interrupted.</p> - -<p>The boys were full of enthusiasm, and were impatient for the actual work -of the house to begin. The more they considered the plan which had been -adopted the better they liked it. All the plans which had been offered -for the prizes were returned to the makers of them; but quite a number -of the competitors destroyed them as soon as they got hold of them, and -no one but themselves and the committee ever knew what blunders they had -made. Yet a few of them were not ashamed to exhibit their work.</p> - -<p>Not a single one of them had selected the location chosen by Bolly -Millweed. Some of them had bridged the lake, and put the boat-house over -in the grove, but most of them had placed it near<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span> the old wharf. One -admitted that he had made the structure two hundred feet long, with -dressing-rooms ten feet square.</p> - -<p>For a week the principal said nothing about the new building, except -that he had ordered the lumber. The boys knew that the quarryman was at -work with all his force on the foundations, and they were nearly ready. -At the close of the school on Friday, about a week after the adoption of -the plans, the principal took his place on the platform.</p> - -<p>"To-morrow will be our usual day for a steamer trip, but I will change -the programme a little," said he. "We shall go to Burlington and tow the -wharf-caisson, or box, up to the quarry. I concluded to have this affair -constructed by a bridge-builder at Burlington, for it was rather too -heavy a job for boys to manage."</p> - -<p>The boys manifested their satisfaction at the announcement by applause. -It would be fun to tow the caisson up the lake, and get it through the -creek, to the quarry. But why was it going to the quarry?</p> - -<p>"We shall load the thirteen stone posts upon it, and bring them down all -at once," replied the principal in answer to this question. "It is -built<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span> of tun timber, and the sticks needed to raise it to the proper -height as a wharf will be placed inside of it."</p> - -<p>"Tun timber; what is that?" asked Ben Ludlow.</p> - -<p>"It is a name given to timber a foot square or more."</p> - -<p>"How about the slant for the bottom?" asked Bolly, with some anxiety on -his face, for he was afraid his idea in its construction had not been -carried out.</p> - -<p>"I had it built in accordance with the sketch you gave me. If you look -at the chart, boys," continued Captain Gildrock, pointing to it on the -wall, "you will see that the water suddenly shoals six feet at the -distance of forty feet from Chowder Point. In other words there is a -step of that height in the rock, such a one as you may see just beyond -the dormitory in the side of Beech Hill. Bolly has located the wharf -outside of this step, where he found ten feet of water."</p> - -<p>"But the bottom slants off six inches in twelve feet," added Bolly.</p> - -<p>"And I had the bottom of the caisson built to fit this slant," continued -the principal.</p> - -<p>"That's all I wanted to know," said Bolly, satisfied that his intention -had been carried out.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span></p><p>School was dismissed, but after dinner the usual work in the shop was -done. The boys were making as many tool-boxes as there were students, -for they would be needed while they were at work on the boat-house. An -hour earlier than usual on her Saturday trips the Sylph started for -Burlington, for it might take all day to get the caisson up to the -quarry. But there was no change made in the organization of the ship's -company, and everything went on as usual.</p> - -<p>They found the caisson in the water just below the city, where it had -been built, and the boys gave three cheers when they saw it. Bolly was -an "idler;" that is, his watch was not on duty in the fire-room. He -leaped from the gangway as the steamer came alongside of the structure, -and inspected it with the greatest gravity and dignity. In answer to the -question of the principal he declared that the caisson was all right in -every respect.</p> - -<p>After the boys had examined the caisson, all hands were called and -assembled on the forward deck. The principal had a letter in his hand -which had been handed to him since the arrival of the Sylph. He informed -the students that he had intended to remain on board during the trip, -but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span> some bank business of the greatest importance required him to -remain in the city till afternoon. He should return to Beech Hill on the -train, and expected to be there by the time the steamer reached the -river.</p> - -<p>The principal was the captain of the steamer, and he had always been on -board during the Saturday trips. He sometimes sent Dory Dornwood away in -her, with Mr. Jepson in charge of the engine, a gardener doing duty as -fireman, and Bates as deck hand; but she had never come out of the river -with her regular ship's company on board in the absence of the captain. -The students jumped to the conclusion that Dory would be made captain on -the present occasion.</p> - -<p>"The organization of the ship's company will remain just as it is," said -Captain Gildrock. "You have learned to obey your officers even if you -think you know more than they do; and this was a very valuable lesson to -learn."</p> - -<p>"It's Captain Dory Dornwood now, I suppose," suggested Life Windham, as -all hands glanced at the first pilot.</p> - -<p>"Not at all," replied the principal. "On sea steamers they don't have -pilots, for the captain navigates the vessel. The pilots on river and -lake<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span> steamers are a sort of independent officials. In our plan the -first pilot is the fourth in rank, and if the captain should be lost -overboard, he would not succeed to the command. The first officer is -next to the captain, and he takes charge of the steamer in the absence -of the captain."</p> - -<p>"Thad Glovering!" exclaimed half a dozen students in the same breath.</p> - -<p>"Glovering will be the captain in my absence, and you will respect and -obey him accordingly," added the principal. "Captain Glovering, you will -tow the caisson to the quarry, and I must leave at once."</p> - -<p>"Three cheers for Captain Glovering!" called Ben Ludlow; and they were -given.</p> - -<p>Captain Gildrock went on shore, and disappeared at once. Some of the -first-class students did not like it very well to have a second-class -fellow put in as captain over them; but they were too well disciplined -to find any fault.</p> - -<p>"Of course Dory will have to show him how to do it," said Bob Swanton.</p> - -<p>"The captain can ask the advice of anyone he likes, but he can do as he -pleases," added Corny Minkfield, rather smartly.</p> - -<p>But Thad did not ask anybody's advice just<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span> then. In spite of some -gentle sarcasm uttered by the older boys, the new captain soon showed -that he knew what he was about. The large hawser by which the caisson -was to be towed lay on the top of the timbers with which it was loaded, -the upper ones serving as a deck. It had been made fast to a huge pin in -the centre of one end, indicating that the box was to be towed by a -single line.</p> - -<p>There were also big cleats at the four corners of the structure, placed -there for the stays to the derrick. The new captain directed the second -officer to take two hawsers and make one fast to each of the corner -cleats. Will Orwell obeyed the order, and the other ends of the hawsers -were sent on board the Sylph. They were carefully secured to cleats in -the stern of the steamer.</p> - -<p>"Go ahead, if you please, pilot," said Thad, when all was ready.</p> - -<p>The propeller was put in motion, but it required a little time to start -the heavy tow. When it did start, it butted against the corner of the -wharf. The first-class students thought the time of the new captain's -defeat had come.</p> - -<p>"Stop her!" shouted Thad, as soon as he discovered the nature of the -difficulty. "Cast off the port tow-line, Mr. Orwell!"</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span></p><p>"Port line clear, sir," reported the second officer, now doing duty as -first.</p> - -<p>"Go ahead, Mr. Pilot!"</p> - -<p>Dory at the wheel rang the bell, and the propeller began to turn again. -As soon as he got steerage way, he headed the steamer away from the -shore. The starboard line was now doing all the work, and exercised all -its force on that side of the caisson. Of course it hauled the tow away -from the wharf. But the captain stopped her as soon as the box was clear -of the obstruction. The port line was made fast again, and care was -taken to see that both tow-ropes were of the same length.</p> - -<p>The first class were willing to admit that the getting under way had -been well managed, and they were magnanimous enough to give the new -captain the credit he deserved. The Sylph tugged away at her heavy -burden, and the log showed, when the steamer was off Rock Dunder, that -she was making about three knots. There was nothing more to be done with -the tow, though the rate of speed was soon increased to four knots.</p> - -<p>It was a monotonous trip, but everything was in the usual order on -board. Dinner was served at the proper time, and at three o' clock the -Sylph<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span> was approaching the mouth of the river. When she was within half -a mile of it the second pilot, who was on duty, reported that the barges -of the Chesterfields were coming out of the stream.</p> - -<p>"I am sorry for that," said Dory Dornwood, as he went into the -pilot-house to take a look at the approach of the boats.</p> - -<p>"So am I," replied Oscar Chester. "I wish you were in command instead of -Thad Glovering."</p> - -<p>"Thad will do very well," answered Dory.</p> - -<p>"Those fellows can't let us alone if they try. What's that? They have -passengers in the stern sheets."</p> - -<p>Dory took a spy glass from the brackets and glanced at the barges.</p> - -<p>"They have eight of the Topovers with them."</p> - -<p>"You will see most of that crowd on board the caisson before long," said -Oscar. "They will cut the tow-lines or cast them off if they can."</p> - -<p>At this moment Captain Glovering entered the pilot-house.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER XXV.</span> <span class="smaller">THE FIRST OFFICER AND PARTY IN BATTLE ARRAY.</span></h2> - -<p>The feeling which had grown up between the Beech Hill and the -Chesterfield students was not hatred, enmity, or even ill will. When -they first met near Sandy Beach neither party could have had anything -against the other. No traditional hatred had been handed down, for both -institutions were new.</p> - -<p>The Chesterfield Collegiate Institute was established only a year -before, and was intended to be a very high-toned establishment, judged -by the society standard. The boys were generally the sons of rich men or -merchants, with a standing in the world; and Colonel Buckmill catered -for this class. Everything about the school was genteel, and the boys -had been taught to "feel their oats."</p> - -<p>In accordance with their education they naturally looked down upon -farmers, mechanics, and small shopkeepers. They were gentlemen, and the -sons of gentlemen, the principal said, and he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span> treated them as such. Out -of this feeling on the part of the students had come the bad conduct of -the Chesterfields at their first meeting with the Beech Hillers. They -expected, and probably received from the country people in their -immediate vicinity, a certain degree of deference, for the institute was -a good customer to all who had anything to sell.</p> - -<p>Doubtless the possession of the new boats had excited them to a degree -which made them somewhat reckless when they were away from the -influences that surrounded them at the school. But even in the offensive -epithets they had applied to the students from the other side of the -lake, they meant no evil. When they were treated with the contempt of -silence they felt like great men who had been neglected, and they wanted -to make themselves felt.</p> - -<p>But they had been beaten with their own weapons, and the desire to -humiliate their school-neighbors was increased. They wanted to get the -Beech Hillers into some sort of a scrape, to annoy them all they could, -and though the Topovers were not at all after their style, they were -glad to make friends with them for the time, in order to accomplish -their purpose.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span></p><p>It looked as though the Chesterfields had come across the lake for the -purpose of doing mischief to their conquerors in the two former -contests. They could hardly have come to give the Topovers a pleasure -excursion in their elegant barges, and their presence in the boats made -it appear that they meant mischief.</p> - -<p>It must be acknowledged that the Beech Hill students generally enjoyed -these meetings with the enemy, as they regarded the Chesterfields, for -the contests with them were full of excitement and fun. But on the -present occasion they were too full of building, too much interested in -the enterprise of moving the timber from Burlington to the quarry, to -care for a battle with the young gentlemen from the other side.</p> - -<p>Most of the students wished that Dory Dornwood were in command of the -steamer, for he had twice proved that he was more than a match in skill -for the Chesterfields. As it was, Captain Thad Glovering was the -autocrat of the occasion. All hands must obey his orders, even if they -led to the most disastrous failure. Mr. Jepson was the only adult on -board; and in his present capacity of chief engineer of the steamer, he -was as much under the orders of the captain as any of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span> the boys. He -simply minded his own business, and did his best to instruct his two -assistants in the structure and management of the engine, hoping the -time would soon come when he could be relieved from his somewhat -disagreeable position.</p> - -<p>Captain Glovering saw that the Chesterfields were making for the caisson -with all the speed of their boats. They would not attempt to meddle with -the steamer, but they could put the Topovers on the caisson, and the -first thing they would do would be to cast off the hawsers. They were -cutting across the shoal water, and would come out in time to intercept -the tow.</p> - -<p>"What do you think of it now, Dory?" asked Oscar Chester, in the -pilot-house.</p> - -<p>"Of course those fellows mean to pay off the old score if they can," -replied the first pilot. "I doubt if we are ever on good terms with the -Chesterfields, as I wish we could be."</p> - -<p>"I suppose they don't feel any better towards us after what the -principal said to them when they hailed the steamer, and wanted to get -up a race. They are the sons of the magnates of the land, and it was -rough for Captain Gildrock to tell them they were not gentlemen, and -that he would not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span> allow us to associate with them for that reason," -added Oscar, chuckling, for all hands had enjoyed the snubbing which the -principal had given them.</p> - -<p>"My uncle told them the simple truth, though it was hard for them to -digest," replied Dory, as he glanced at the two barges.</p> - -<p>"Don't you think you ought to have a talk with Thad Glovering, Dory?" -asked Oscar, after he had watched the approaching barges for a moment. -"He don't seem to be doing anything, and in ten minutes more we shall -have to pick up the tow."</p> - -<p>"If Captain Glovering asks my advice, I shall give it to him; but not -without. I have no more right to meddle with his business than any other -fellow," replied Dory, very decidedly. "If I were in his place I should -not want every fellow putting his finger in my pie. He is responsible -for the steamer and the tow; and in my opinion Thad knows what he is -about."</p> - -<p>Captain Glovering was on the hurricane deck, watching the approach of -the boats. He did not seem to be at all nervous or uneasy in regard to -the situation. The Sylph was just beginning to round in so as to strike -the channel. On the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span> other side of it the water was only from one to -three feet deep, and the caisson would make a wide sweep in coming -about.</p> - -<p>"If the tow should get adrift here it would ground in shoal water," said -Dory, as he glanced again at the approaching barges.</p> - -<p>"Captain Glovering has just called Will Orwell, and he means to do -something. It is time something was done," replied Oscar.</p> - -<p>The acting first officer had come on the hurricane deck, and the captain -was apparently giving him some orders. Will hastened to the forward deck -again. All hands were called; and this summons included all who were not -actually on duty in the engine and firerooms or the pilot-house, for the -work of the cooks and stewards was finished for that day.</p> - -<p>Will selected eight of them and sent them to the stern of the steamer. -It was evident that something was to be done, and the students wondered -what it was. The captain was not asleep, and it was clear that he was -conscious of the perils of the tow. Thad had observed with admiration -the conduct of Dory in the former engagements with the Chesterfields and -Topovers, and he had strictly obeyed every order without<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span> asking a -question. He was glad of the present opportunity to distinguish himself, -and he hoped to give a good account of himself.</p> - -<p>"Mr. Pilot, I wish you would hug the port side of the channel, and get -the tow as far as possible from the shoal water," said Captain -Glovering, entering the pilot-house as soon as he had given his orders -to the first officer. "I wish to stop her as soon as possible."</p> - -<p>"I have been doing that, Captain Glovering," replied Dory. "It will be -safe to stop her as soon as you give the order."</p> - -<p>"Thank you," added the captain, with more politeness than is usual on -board of vessels.</p> - -<p>Captain Glovering hastened to the stern of the hurricane deck where he -could see the tow. Will and his eight hands were on the rail ready to do -the duty intrusted to them. The captain called to the pilot to stop her. -The order was promptly obeyed, but the headway of the Sylph kept her at -the same relative distance from the caisson. Then a few strokes back -were called for. The first officer had put fenders over the stern; but -the captain did not allow the tow to come in contact with the steamer.</p> - -<p>As soon as the caisson was near enough, Will<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span> and his party leaped on -board of it. The captain had given the order to go ahead before they did -so. The steamer straightened the tow-lines, and in a few moments -everything was moving on as before. The wind was light from the -northwest, and Dory hugged the weather side of the channel; but the -Sylph was still half a mile from the nearest point of land at the -entrance of the river.</p> - -<p>"The captain has done something, but I haven't the least idea what it -is," said Oscar, as the tow-lines began to stretch.</p> - -<p>"Neither have I, for I have not even looked behind me to see what he was -about," replied the first pilot, who never neglected his own duty to -attend to other people's business.</p> - -<p>"He has put the first officer and eight of the fellows on board of the -caisson," added Oscar. "But there are thirty-five fellows in the barges, -and the captain don't expect to beat them off with only nine of ours. I -wonder he did not send the whole crowd except what are needed to work -the steamer."</p> - -<p>"Don't be in a hurry to criticise, Oscar," laughed Dory, without even -looking out at the rear windows of the pilot-house to see what the -captain was about.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</a></span></p><p>"Does Thad Glovering expect nine of our fellows to whip four times -their number?" demanded the second pilot, who was evidently beginning to -be somewhat excited. "We are not going more than three knots now, and -the Chesterfields can have it all their own way. Our fellows can't do -anything on the caisson when the barges pour in twenty or thirty fellows -upon them; and the Topovers are fighting men."</p> - -<p>"Keep cool, Oscar," said Dory, smiling.</p> - -<p>"Do you know what the captain's plan is, Dory?" asked the second pilot -nervously.</p> - -<p>"I do not; I have not the first idea in regard to it," answered Dory. -"But I think you had better go astern where you can see what is going -on. If there is going to be a fight Captain Glovering will certainly -want you; and you may have a chance to tackle Tom Topover."</p> - -<p>"I should like the chance," said Oscar, as he left the pilot-house.</p> - -<p>By this time the barges were within a few rods of the caisson. One was -bearing down upon the stern, and the other upon the starboard side of -it. Mad Twinker, who was leading in the Dasher, was evidently the -commodore of the squadron, for he gave orders to Jeff Monroe in the -Racer. He<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</a></span> clearly had a plan, and intended to capture the caisson, or -at least to set it adrift.</p> - -<p>In the bow of the commodore's barge was Tom Topover and Nim Splugger, -ready to leap on board of the expected prize. In the Racer, Kidd -Digfield and Pell Sankland occupied the corresponding positions. The -other Topovers were seated in the rear of their leaders, and were to -follow them in the boarding exploit.</p> - -<p>When the barges were within fifty feet of the caisson the captain's plan -was suddenly developed. On the top of the timber were a dozen long -pike-poles, which Captain Gildrock had ordered at Burlington. Each one -was armed with a sharp spike in one end. They were to be used in raising -the building, and in managing the caisson in the narrow creek.</p> - -<p>At the word from Will Orwell, each of the nine students picked up a -pike, and poised it in the direction of the approaching barges.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER XXVI.</span> <span class="smaller">THE RESULT OF THE BATTLE ON THE CAISSON.</span></h2> - -<p>Commodore Mad Twinker could not help seeing the preparations on board of -the caisson for the reception of his party. He saw the pike-poles, but -he could not know that the ends were armed with spikes. Doubtless he -supposed the weapons were simply to be used in shoving the barges away -from the tow.</p> - -<p>Oscar Chester saw at a glance, when the party on the caisson picked up -the pikes, that the captain of the Sylph was likely to make bad work -with the boats of the enemy. He walked forward to the pilot-house and -reported to Dory the state of things, for the first pilot had not yet -looked astern.</p> - -<p>"Will Orwell's party can stave their boats all to pieces in less than -two minutes," added Oscar, somewhat excited still.</p> - -<p>"I hope he will not have occasion to do that," added Dory. "The -Chesterfields can see for themselves that the iron points will go -through<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</a></span> the cedar planking as if it were nothing but paper."</p> - -<p>"I don't think they know that the poles are armed with spikes."</p> - -<p>"They can see what they are in season to back out," added Dory, as Oscar -returned to the stern of the steamer to watch the proceedings, and take -a part in them, if required.</p> - -<p>"Keep off! keep off!" shouted Will Orwell, as the Dasher approached the -caisson.</p> - -<p>Instead of heeding this warning, the Chesterfields gave three cheers, as -though the victory were already won, and they had possession of the -caisson. The commodore quickened the movements of his oarsmen, and the -Topovers in the bows of the boat were all ready to spring upon the -prize.</p> - -<p>"Keep off, or we will stave your boats all to pieces!" shouted the first -officer, louder and more vigorously than before.</p> - -<p>A yell of derision greeted him, and the barges still advanced to the -destruction that awaited them.</p> - -<p>"These poles have an iron spike in the end, and they will go through -your boats every time! Keep off, or your boats will be spoiled!" shouted -Will Orwell; and certainly the Chesterfields could<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</a></span> not complain that -they had not had sufficient warning.</p> - -<p>The first officer was very reluctant to do any damage if the enemy could -be repulsed in any other way. He placed himself at the point where the -Dasher was likely to come in contact with the caisson, and held up his -pike-pole so that the reckless assailants could see what it was.</p> - -<p>"Hold on!" shouted Mad Twinker, when his craft came within a short -distance of the intended prize. "Drop oars!"</p> - -<p>Without the action that followed these orders they would not have been -intelligible to those on the tow. It was evident that the Chesterfields -did not follow any known system, but had invented their own commands. -The first order meant for the crew to cease rowing, and the second to -hold water. These were followed by an order to back her. Will hoped that -the assailants had discovered the wicked nature of the pikes, and were -intending to save their boats; but it was soon evident that the speed of -the barges had been checked so as not to stave the boats in the -collision.</p> - -<p>"All ready forward there!" shouted the coxswain of the Dasher. "Tumble -them overboard if they don't get out of your way."</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</a></span></p><p>"Let her went!" screamed Tom Topover, as he stepped on the bow rails of -the boat, where he balanced himself so that he could leap readily upon -the caisson.</p> - -<p>The order of the commodore indicated no sign of relenting, and Will -Orwell realized that all his warning and explanations had done no good -in opening the eyes of the Chesterfields and their allies. The Dasher -was coming slowly up to the raft, for her speed had not been fully -checked. When it was within ten feet of the point where he stood, the -first officer saw that the time for action had come. With a -well-directed lunge with his pike-pole, he drove the end of it entirely -through the bow planking of the barge, about on the water line.</p> - -<p>The thin boards snapped and splintered, and the pikeman had some -difficulty in withdrawing his weapon from the wound he had made. The -force of the blow had overcome what little momentum the barge had, and -brought her to a standstill. Four more pikes were ready to complete the -work of destruction the instant the first officer gave the order.</p> - -<p>"There is a hole stove in the bow!" yelled the bowman of the barge.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</a></span></p><p>"Shove her ahead again!" added Tom Topover, mad with excitement.</p> - -<p>"Row again!" shouted Mad Twinker to his crew; and this order made it -clear that he did not intend to retire from the contest.</p> - -<p>"Punch her, Lew!" said Will, as the barge began to advance again. "Hit -her a little lower than I did."</p> - -<p>Lew Shoreham was a stout fellow, and he rammed his pike through the -other side of the bow, just below the water line. The wound he made was -a more ragged one than the first, and the water poured into the barge -like a young cataract. But Mad promptly checked the movement of the boat -so as to strike the tow gently, for the safety of his own craft.</p> - -<p>The stem of the barge had come within three feet of the caisson, and Tom -Topover made a flying leap. He was followed by two others; but the last -one fell a little short of the mark, and went into the water, though he -caught hold of the tow with his hands.</p> - -<div class="center"><img src="images/i262.jpg" alt="Punch her again, added Will" /></div> - -<p class="bold">"'Punch her again,' added Will; and, as he did not -indicate who<br />was to act, all four of his party obeyed the order."—Page 263.</p> - -<p>"Punch her again!" added Will; and as he did not indicate who was to -act, all four of his party obeyed the order, the other four being at the -stern to receive the assailants of the other boat, which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</a></span> had not yet -come within punching distance of the caisson.</p> - -<p>The effect of all these blows was to riddle the bows of the Dasher, and -crowd her away from the tow. As the latter was now making at least three -miles an hour, the shattered barge fell astern of her prey. The water -was pouring in at the bow of the boat through half a dozen ragged holes, -and the craft was settling rapidly.</p> - -<p>"We are sinking!" cried one of the Chesterfields.</p> - -<p>Mad Twinker seemed to realize the situation by this time, and all his -warlike energy evaporated. He called the remaining Topovers from the -bow, and several of his crew from the forward thwarts. As the boat had -been well down by the head on account of the weight of the five boarders -who had been stationed there, the order of the coxswain relieved the -boat from her peril immediately. But she seemed to be half full of -water.</p> - -<p>Three of the Topovers had secured a footing on the caisson. All of them -struck on their faces, and Will could easily have rolled them into the -water; but no attention was given to them, and they crawled out from -under the pikes of the victorious defenders of the craft. They made -their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</a></span> way to the forward end of the tow; but the disaster to the Dasher -disturbed their calculations, and suddenly cooled their warlike -enthusiasm.</p> - -<p>"That boat has had enough of it for to-day," said Will Orwell, as he -glanced at the Racer approaching at the stern of the caisson.</p> - -<p>"She can't do anything more if she tries," replied Lew Shoreham. "We can -make short work of the other barge."</p> - -<p>But Jeff Monroe, the coxswain of the Racer, was not blind. He had been -watching the onslaught of the Dasher, and had seen her bow riddled by -the pikes of the defenders of the caisson. He could see her settled down -in the water almost to her gunwale. Four pikes were poised ready to -inflict the same chastisement upon his own craft, and against such -weapons he was powerless to contend. He gave the order to hold water -when the Racer was within ten feet of the caisson, and then to back her.</p> - -<p>"He has concluded not to take his punching," said Will Orwell, who had -reinforced the stern with his party.</p> - -<p>"He would be a fool if he did not back out, after what he has seen," -added Lew Shoreham. "There won't be any more music to-day."</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</a></span></p><p>"I think not; and the band may put up their instruments," continued the -first officer, as he dropped his pike-pole on the timbers. "Halloo, -there! What are you about?"</p> - -<p>This sudden change of tone on the part of the officer was caused by the -movements of the Topovers on the tow. Tom had appeared to be somewhat -bewildered by the failure of the expedition of the Chesterfields, and -stood quietly on the forward end until the Racer backed out and pulled -for her battered consort. While Will and his companions were watching -the movements of the second barge, Tom had made a sudden dive at the -cleat on the starboard side, and Nim Splugger rushed to the port one.</p> - -<p>Tom had succeeded in casting the tow line on his side loose, though one -fold of the rope still lay under the cleat. Nim had not yet been able to -loosen the other, the securing of which had been finished with a -half-hitch. Will and his force rushed forward to prevent the tow-lines -from dragging overboard. Lew Shoreham seized Nim Splugger by the collar -of his coat while he was still at work on the rope.</p> - -<p>"What are you goin' to do about it?" demanded Tom Topover, springing to -his feet, and putting<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</a></span> himself into a fighting attitude. "I can lick the -whole of you."</p> - -<p>Will Orwell was no match for such a fellow as the leader of the -Topovers, but he rushed upon him, and got a heavy blow in the face. The -second officer was not a fighting man, and, instead of hitting back with -his fist, he threw himself upon his antagonist. Phil Gawner went behind -him, and clasped his arms around the neck of the chief marauder, while -Dick Short went for the legs of the bully. Two others got hold where -they could, and all of them succeeded in crowding Tom down upon the -timbers.</p> - -<p>Lew Shoreham had got his victim under him, and he was strong enough to -hold him there. The third Topover, who had been pressing the water out -of his wet clothes, attempted to help Nim, but three of the steamer's -party went for him.</p> - -<p>"That's no way to fight," puffed Tom Topover, as he lay wriggling under -the four deck hands. "Let me up, and I'll wallop the whole of you."</p> - -<p>"We don't want to be walloped, and you had better stay where you are. -Don't let him up, fellows."</p> - -<p>They did not, and Will hastened to secure the hawser, which was running -overboard. At this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</a></span> moment the steamer stopped, for Captain Glovering -had closely observed all that happened on the caisson. The starboard -quarter-boat of the Sylph was lowered into the water. Will was thinking -what he should do with his prisoners, when a boat from the steamer came -alongside. Oscar Chester was in charge of it, with four of the crew at -the oars.</p> - -<p>As the boat came alongside, Oscar threw a handful of small line on the -timbers, saying it was the order of the captain that the arms of the -prisoners should be bound behind them. The second pilot sprang on board, -and was happy to take a hand in the ceremony, as he called it, though it -would have pleased him better to stand up alone with the chief ruffian.</p> - -<p>As the three Topovers were held down, there was no difficulty in -executing the order of the captain. Tom swore, and was furious in his -wrath. Nim Splugger struggled to escape, but all of them were secured.</p> - -<p>"I am directed by the captain to land them on the point," said Oscar, -when the operation was completed.</p> - -<p>Tom protested. He should have to walk two miles; but no time was wasted -on him, and he was put on shore.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER XXVII.</span> <span class="smaller">THE INTERVIEW BETWEEN THE TWO PRINCIPALS.</span></h2> - -<p>As the Sylph and the tow had been in motion all the time during the -battle on the caisson, they were within a few rods of the point. Tom -Topover wanted Oscar Chester to put him on board of the Racer, but the -request was denied. The second pilot also refused to unbind him and his -companions when he landed them, for he would incur no risk.</p> - -<p>The tow-lines had been adjusted, and the steamer was again making her -way up the river when the boat returned. Tom used a great deal of bad -language when he found himself standing on the point with his arms tied -behind him and Oscar wanted to thrash him, as he was confident he could, -but he obeyed his orders to the letter.</p> - -<p>The two barges were half a mile from the point. They had come together, -and the crew of the Dasher were baling her out. By keeping the crew well -astern, the ragged holes in the bow<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</a></span> were raised above the water line. -The Topovers who had been on board of her were transferred to the Racer. -The Chesterfields were a sorry crowd, and as they had no further use for -their allies, the Racer conveyed them to the point.</p> - -<p>Of course Tom's bonds were removed then, and as the Racer started for -the other side of the lake the Topovers took up the line of march for -Genverres. When the Sylph reached the first bend in the river, the -Dasher, pulling only half her oars, had begun her voyage across the -lake. The Racer kept close to her, but she seemed to get along very -well, though very slowly.</p> - -<p>"I don't believe those fellows will feel like coming over here again -very soon," said Oscar in the pilot-house.</p> - -<p>"I don't know about that," replied Dory Dornwood. "This is the third -time they have got the worst of it; but I have no idea that they will -ever be satisfied until they get even with us."</p> - -<p>"That is just what I think," added Captain Glovering, who was seated in -the pilot-house. "But I don't believe they will want to attack us on the -water again."</p> - -<p>"If we hadn't had those pike-poles we could not have done a thing, and -it was only an accident<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</a></span> that they happened to be on the caisson," -continued Oscar.</p> - -<p>"I don't think so; we should have found some other way to meet them," -answered Captain Glovering. "When they have had as much experience on -the lake as we have, they may be able to do something."</p> - -<p>"But the Topovers are madder than the Chesterfields, and they are our -neighbors," suggested Oscar. "I believe we shall hear from them again -soon. Tom swore he would fix us yet, and if he ever caught me alone he -would pound me till I couldn't see out of my eyes. I only hope he will -meet me alone."</p> - -<p>"Let him alone; don't get into any quarrel with him," said Dory, in his -quiet way.</p> - -<p>"I shall not seek any quarrel with him, and I will do the best I can to -avoid a fight; but if I get into one in a natural way, I shall try to be -a muscular Christian."</p> - -<p>"The Topovers are more likely to steal our boats in the night, to turn -the Goldwing adrift, or something of that sort, than to make an open -attack upon us," argued the captain.</p> - -<p>"My uncle would prosecute them if it were not for making their parents -pay their fines," said the first pilot.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</a></span></p><p>When the Sylph reached the creek, the real difficulty of the trip -began. The first officer and his party were still on the caisson; but -the captain put a dozen more of the ship's company on board of it. They -were to use the pikes to crowd the tow away from the shore and the shoal -water when it could not be done by means of the double tow lines.</p> - -<p>Oscar, who as second pilot had made a careful study of the depth of -water in the creek as well as the lakes, was sent on board; and the -special charge of the tow-lines was given to him. Slacking one or the -other of these proved to be sufficient until the caisson reached the -V-point. In spite of the tow-lines the tow dragged on the bottom, and a -good deal of vigorous work had to be done with the pike-poles.</p> - -<p>The passage through Beech Hill Lake was observed by the instructors, and -all the servants from the house and garden, until the steamer went into -the creek above. Some hard work had to be done with the pike-poles -before the caisson was moored at the stone wharf, but before supper time -the Sylph was at her wharf.</p> - -<p>Captain Gildrock had been detained in Burlington by the affairs of the -bank until the last train;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</a></span> but he arrived early in the evening. Captain -Glovering reported to him at once, giving a full account of the -encounter with the Chesterfields and Topovers. The principal was sorry -to hear this story of contention with the students from the other side -and the marauders of his own side. He approved the action of Captain -Glovering, even to the staving of the boat, for it was done in defence -of the property entrusted to his care, as well as in protecting the -persons of the ship's company. If he intended to do anything about it, -he kept his own counsel.</p> - -<p>Unlike the commanding officer of the Beech Hillers, Commodore Twinker -did not report his proceedings to the principal of his school. On the -contrary, he tried to conceal them, and the shattered Dasher was rowed -to the boat-builder in Westport for repairs. Her crew kept her under the -high bank of the lake when they passed the institute buildings.</p> - -<p>But it so happened that the principal had been over to Burlington on a -steamer, and saw the Dasher when she came into Westport. He inquired -into the matter, and the students told a story to suit themselves; but -the main feature of the narrative was that they had been grossly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</a></span> -insulted by both the principal and the "Tinkers" of the Beech Hill -School. The Chesterfields had been told by Captain Gildrock that they -were not gentlemen, and were not fit to associate with his pupils. The -crew of the Winooski had treated them with contempt, and run into their -boat.</p> - -<p>Colonel Buckmill was indignant, and on Monday he went over to Beech -Hill. He stated his business in a gentlemanly manner, dwelling mainly on -the charge of the captain that the Chesterfields were not fit company -for the Beech Hill students. Captain Gildrock admitted that he had said -so, and still held to that opinion. He was as gentlemanly as his -visitor, but his views were very decided. He went over the three -encounters with the Chesterfields and their allies, and sent for Dory -Dornwood to explain the first meeting of the crews of the barges.</p> - -<p>Colonel Buckmill "got a flea in his ear," but his own views of "greasy -mechanics" were not very different from those of his pupils. Though he -did not say so in so many words, he thought the students of the -Chesterfield Collegiate Institution were entitled to a good deal of -deference from boys "picked up in the streets." The captain<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</a></span> did not see -it in this light, and the two principals did not get ahead any better -than their pupils.</p> - -<p>"While my boys behave themselves like gentlemen, I expect them to be -treated as such," replied Captain Gildrock. "I expect them to defend -themselves if attacked; but if they go out of their way to invite an -attack, I will take the boats away from them, and not allow them to -leave the school grounds until they learn better. Your students have -been the aggressors in every instance."</p> - -<p>"Silence is sometimes more insulting than speech, than even offensive -speech," replied the colonel proudly.</p> - -<p>"Your views differ very essentially from mine, Colonel Buckmill, and it -is hardly worth while to attempt to reconcile them," continued Captain -Gildrock. "You are on one side of the lake and I am on the other, and -there is not the least occasion for any collision between us, or between -our students. If your boys will let mine alone, I will agree to keep the -peace."</p> - -<p>"But I expect my young gentlemen to be treated with respect, even on the -lake," insisted the colonel.</p> - -<p>"When one of our barges met your boats, our<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</a></span> boys tossed oars, which is -the highest token of respect in a boat; but your students did not even -know what it meant, and greeted ours with offensive epithets. But not a -word in retaliation came from the mouth of a Beech Hill student. After -that our boys very carefully avoided yours. The attack last Saturday was -entirely unprovoked."</p> - -<p>"But it grew out of former occurrences," reasoned Colonel Buckmill.</p> - -<p>"I have explained the nature of the first meeting. I have my remedy in -the courts if these outrages are repeated," added Captain Gildrock.</p> - -<p>"In the courts!" exclaimed the visitor, rising to his feet in -astonishment and indignation. "Do I understand you that you intend to -prosecute my young gentlemen?"</p> - -<p>"If the principal of their school justifies them in their conduct and -declines to control them, I shall certainly protect my boys from insult -and assault in the best way I can," answered the captain decidedly.</p> - -<p>"These affairs are nothing but the frolics of young gentlemen, and it -would be outrageous to take them into the courts," added the colonel, -more moderately. "Your students have nearly ruined<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</a></span> one of our boats, -and I could make a just claim for damages."</p> - -<p>"I hope you will make it," said the captain, laughing.</p> - -<p>"I do not desire to settle such frolics in that way."</p> - -<p>"I think nothing more need be said, Colonel Buckmill. Your boys have a -perfect right to navigate these waters. My boys have thus far proved -that they are able to take care of themselves; but I dislike these -collisions. I only ask you to do what I will do myself; my boys shall -not meddle with yours; and the least you can do is to require yours not -to meddle with mine. I should be glad to establish friendly relations -between the students of the two schools—"</p> - -<p>"None of my young men are tinkers," interposed the colonel with a sneer.</p> - -<p>"But they have formed an alliance with the Topovers, the scallawags of -Genverres. No matter about that. I see that friendly relations between -the schools are impossible, and we can only agree to disagree. I shall -be sorry to seek my remedy in the courts. Therefore I hope you will -control your boys."</p> - -<p>"I expected some allowance would be made for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</a></span> the irregularities of -young gentlemen, all of whom come from the best families in the States," -said Colonel Buckmill, rising to take his leave. "I was mistaken, and I -will do the best I can to prevent any further collision."</p> - -<p>"That is all I can possibly ask; and if you do that, I shall hope that -friendly relations—not socially, but on the lake as boatmen—may yet be -established between our students, though some of mine may have the oil -of the turning-lathe upon their skirts."</p> - -<p>Colonel Buckmill departed no better satisfied than when he came. As a -matter of fact, he had little expectation of being able to control his -young gentlemen while they were on their excursions upon the lake. He -was not a disciplinarian, and he had little skill in managing boys. The -interview between the two principals hardly promised anything hopeful or -peaceful in the future.</p> - -<p>During the week the Sylph towed up to Beech Hill several rafts of -lumber, and a week after the arrival of the caisson Mr. Brookbine was -ready to begin the framing of the boat-house.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER XXVIII.</span> <span class="smaller">SOMETHING ABOUT FRAMING THE BOAT-HOUSE.</span></h2> - -<p>While the work of framing the boat-house was in progress, the lessons in -the shops were suspended, but the forenoon exercises of the school were -continued as usual. The new tools had arrived, and had been distributed. -The place chosen for framing the building was a level piece of ground -between the shops and the dormitory.</p> - -<p>On this spot the timber had been landed and piled up by laborers. -Instead of assembling in the shop after dinner, the students were -required to be on this ground with their boxes of tools. Mr. Brookbine -was the central figure of the picture on this occasion, and, as usual, -the boys were full of enthusiasm, for they were to make a beginning on a -new piece of work. They gathered around the master carpenter, each -standing by his box.</p> - -<p>"The difficulty in our way, boys, is that you insist upon going too -fast," Mr. Brookbine began. "Captain Gildrock wants it understood that -our<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</a></span> business now is not so much to frame a building as to learn how to -frame one. I am willing to answer questions, but I want you to stick to -the text, and not talk about things a thousand miles from it.</p> - -<p>"This boat-house is to be ninety-six feet long and thirty-two feet wide, -not including the lean-tos for the dressing-rooms and small docks. We -will divide the length into six parts, and the width into two parts. -This will make twelve squares of sixteen feet each, or two hundred and -fifty-six square feet. Every corner of these twelve squares must be -supported by a foundation."</p> - -<p>"That will make forty-eight posts, and only thirteen have been ordered," -said Life Windham. "I don't see how thirteen posts can support -forty-eight corners."</p> - -<p>"Perhaps if you had waited before you said anything, you would have -seen. Each of the inside posts, in the middle of the platform between -the docks, will support four corners. One post may support one, two, or -four corners. Of course no posts are required for those parts which are -over the shore. We shall simply put blocks or short pieces of timber -under them, and lay stone wall under the sills."</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</a></span></p><p>"But what are the sills?" asked Tom Ridley.</p> - -<p>"I will explain the details as soon as you get the general idea of the -frame," replied the instructor. "As I have said, the space to be -enclosed by the frame is divided into six sections of the whole length. -Each of these sections contains two of the squares I have described. -Now, Ludlow, give me the size of the ground of each section."</p> - -<p>"Thirty-two by sixteen," replied the student indicated.</p> - -<p>"Right; and the boat-house will be the same as six buildings of -thirty-two by sixteen, though all but two of the sides would be common -to two of them. What I shall call a section of the frame includes all -the timbers in one end of the building. I say one end. Never mind the -length of the building. How many of these sections of the frame will -there be, Bellows?"</p> - -<p>"Six, of course," replied the student; and about half the boys laughed -outright.</p> - -<p>"Wrong," added Mr. Brookbine, joining in the laugh. "We have had this -subject up before in the shop, and I am sorry you have forgotten about -it. If you set up six stakes in the ground, how many spaces are there -between them, Bellows?"</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</a></span></p><p>"Six, I should say;" and the boys all laughed again.</p> - -<p>"Set them up and count them," continued the master carpenter, rather -impatiently.</p> - -<p>Ned Bellows did so, and could count only five spaces. He was required to -add another stick, and this gave him the six spaces, as in the building.</p> - -<p>"How many stakes have you, Bellows?"</p> - -<p>"Seven," replied the student, rather sheepishly. "I see that there will -be seven sections of the frame."</p> - -<p>"Making no allowance for the docks, these seven sections are just alike, -and contain precisely the same timbers," continued Mr. Brookbine. "This -frame will be put together in sections, and each will be raised by -itself, by the aid of rigging and machinery."</p> - -<p>The boys began to ask questions, for some of them did not understand the -sections yet. The instructor sent for a blackboard, which he placed on -an easel; and with this he made the subject plain to all. There were -seven tiers of timbers to be set up, when framed and put together, just -like seven bricks, each placed on one end.</p> - -<p>"Now we will drop the sections for a time, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</a></span> take them up again when -we are ready for them," the instructor proceeded, as he rubbed the -drawings from the blackboard. He then drew an outline of Chowder Point -and the shore near it. "Now I will mark where the twenty-one points of -support of the building are to be placed;" and he put this number of -small crosses on the board. "Some of these bearings are posts and some -are blocks, as they are in the water or on the shore.</p> - -<p>"The timbers which rest on these foundation-points are the sills. These -are the first we frame. They are twelve inches square. We cannot find -any in our pile ninety-six feet long, and we shall have to scarf or -splice them." While he spoke, he drew the positions of the sills on the -foundations.</p> - -<p>"But the boats can't go through that timber to get into the docks," -interposed Nat Long.</p> - -<p>"Let us attend to the general plan of the frame, and we will alter it -for the docks before we are done," replied the instructor, as he -proceeded to draw the five cross-timbers connecting the sills. "Now the -sills are laid down. Between the cross, or section sills, we put in the -floor joist. How far apart are the sections, Gawner?"</p> - -<p>"Sixteen feet."</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</a></span></p><p>"These floor timbers are simply two-inch planks, nine inches wide. -There is a pile of them," said Mr. Brookbine, pointing to the lumber. -"They are to be placed sixteen inches apart, the sills being notched, or -mortised, to receive the ends. These joists must be bridged."</p> - -<p>"Bridged?" queried Ben Ludlow.</p> - -<p>"This must be done before the floor is laid, for we can't get at the -joist afterwards. Short pieces of board are nailed from the upper side -of one timber to the lower side of the next one, the ends being sawed at -the right bevel. Another piece is nailed in close to it, at right angles -with the first. A pair of bridge-sticks must be put in every five feet. -They are used to prevent the narrow timber from canting, thus giving a -firm and solid floor.</p> - -<p>"The next thing is to lay the floor; that is, we nail down boards over -all the timbers. This will make the lower floor. Now, I may say that the -framing for the end of the building where the docks are must be adapted -to their shape. The floor-timbers of the lean-tos for the dressing-rooms -will be supported by braces above and below from the posts.</p> - -<p>"Now, we will suppose that the entire floor, except the docks, is laid, -and we have a platform<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</a></span> ninety-six by forty to stand upon. Before the -sills were put in place, they will be mortised to receive the tenons at -the ends of the posts, and of the braces. Now we are ready to return to -the sections of the frame.</p> - -<p>"To each section there are three posts,—one at each side, and one in -the centre of the building. On the upper ends of these posts rest the -plates;" and the instructor drew the parts as he described them. "They -connect the posts at the top, as the sills do at the bottom. About on a -level with the hall-floor are timbers, called girders, joining the -middle post with the outside ones. The sills, the plates, and the -girders are the principal timbers, and are the same in all the sections.</p> - -<p>"In every corner there is a diagonal brace, forming a right-angled -triangle with a base and a perpendicular of three feet. We shall mortise -for these braces, though of late years many carpenters simply spike them -in their places. Between the sills and the girders, and between the -girders and the plates, are the studs. They are made of four-by-two -stuff, or, in other words, of two-inch plank, four inches wide. The -sills, girders, and plates are mortised for them, and a two-inch tenon -cut at the end of each stick.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</a></span> Where windows come, short studs are put -in above and below them. They are placed sixteen inches apart. This -completes the frame below the roof."</p> - -<p>"Then we are ready to go to work," said one of the boys.</p> - -<p>"Not yet, for you don't expect the sections to stand alone. The frame of -the first section will be put together with the bottoms of the posts at -the mortises they are to occupy. It will be no easy job to get it up to -a perpendicular; but it can be done with pike-poles and a derrick, with -no little rigging. When we get it upright, the tenons will drop into the -mortises, and we have to stay it in position with braces and ropes. Then -we raise the second section in the same manner. There are plates and -girders on the sides as well as the ends of the building. While the two -sections are held in position, the girders and plates are put up to -connect them. The studs and braces are put in place, as in the end -section.</p> - -<p>"All the large timbers are pinned together. You will have a nice time in -making a cord or two of these pins. They are about an inch in diameter, -made a little large for the hole, so as to fit it snugly. We pin the -braces so that they will hold<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</a></span> both ways, but the studs are not fastened -at all, for the tenons cannot get out of the mortises."</p> - -<p>"We can turn the pins," suggested Lick Milton.</p> - -<p>"You can; but while you are fitting the wood into the lathe I can cut -out two of them with a broad axe. Your eye must be educated to the size. -As we add each section to the building, we fill in the space between -this one and the next. Now we have the frame up all but the roof.</p> - -<p>"All structures are not framed alike, and some of the connections I have -mentioned have to be omitted in some places. For example, the braces -between the cross-girders and the posts can be used only in the ends of -the building. Again, all the middle posts, except the two at the ends, -must be short ones, for we don't want them in the middle of the hall.</p> - -<p>"The framing of the roof is a simple matter, though we shall have to -support the ceiling of the hall from it. To do this we use a little -larger timber than would otherwise be required for the rafters, as they -form a sort of truss, from which we hang the upper floor. I have -finished what I had to say; but the details will have to be explained as -we go along."</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</a></span></p><p>"You can't do anything with some of these timbers," said Bob Swanton, -as he pointed to one near him. "It is twisted all out of shape."</p> - -<p>"That one is warped in the sun; but a stick must be very crooked before -we throw it out," replied Mr. Brookbine. "We must take the 'wind' out of -it. All we want is two faces at right angles with each other. We select -the two best sides, and with a couple of squares sight along each. Then -we must hew it down where it is out."</p> - -<p>The students were then required to take the square and compasses from -the box. The actual work of framing was to begin.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER XXIX.</span> <span class="smaller">THE STUDENTS USE THE SQUARE AND COMPASSES.</span></h2> - -<p>Mr. Brookbine stood on one of the timbers intended for the sills of the -boat-house. In his hand he held a steel square and a pair of compasses.</p> - -<p>"The pair of compasses I hold in my hand," he said, "are of the simplest -construction. Those you have in the shop are fitted with a screw-stop so -that you can fasten them in any required position. You will complain -that it is hard to move the legs of these, but as they must stay in -place without any screw, it is necessary that the joint be a tight fit."</p> - -<p>"Legs?" said a student.</p> - -<p>"You can call them shanks, if you prefer, or arms. There are a great -many technical names to parts of apparatus which are not often used -because they are not generally known," replied the instructor. "Since I -came to Beech Hill I learned that an oar consists of the handle, the -loom and the blade. Outside of the navy probably not one<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[Pg 290]</a></span> in ten ever -heard of the loom of an oar, or would know what it meant. In carpentry -the technical names used in one part of the country are not known in -other parts. Legs is the proper technical name of the two parts of the -compasses.</p> - -<p>"You notice that the points are more blunt than those you use in the -shop. In framing we use one of the legs as a marking-awl. The awl would -do just as well, but it is sometimes convenient to have the compasses in -your hand so that you can lay off a distance from the square with them. -The points are tapered more rapidly so that they will make a mark which -can readily be seen by the workman.</p> - -<p>"The steel square is one of the most important tools used by the -carpenter, and I could use up hours in telling you about it. The parts -have technical names, though few make a strict use of them. The corner -is called the heel, from which each of the four measures on it start. -The long arm is the blade and the short one the tongue. The blade is -just two feet long, or twenty-four inches."</p> - -<p>"Mine is only twenty-three," suggested one of the boys, all of whom were -examining their steel squares.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[Pg 291]</a></span></p><p>"Mine is only twenty-two in one place, and twenty-three in another," -added another.</p> - -<p>"You are altogether too literal, and the letter killeth in carpentry as -well as in Scripture," replied Mr. Brookbine. "You must apply common -sense to the figures. Now look at the outside measure on the blade: find -the figure for one inch. That one means one inch in length, without -regard to breadth, as you define a line in geometry. Hold up the square -with the tongue down. Now does the inch of length lie on the right or -the left of the point marked one."</p> - -<p>"On the right," replied a dozen.</p> - -<p>"Now look at the point marked twenty-three: is the inch marked with this -number on the right or the left of it?"</p> - -<p>"On the right."</p> - -<p>"But there is another inch on the left of the mark, which is the -twenty-fourth inch, though there is no room to mark it uniformly with -the other numbers. Now, boys, look the thing over a little before you -raise an objection. I repeat that, on the outside, the blade is two feet -long. The student who said his blade was marked twenty-two in one place -was wrong in his fact, and if he looks again he will see that the -inside<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[Pg 292]</a></span> length of the blade is twenty-two and a half inches, which is -the outside width less the width of the tongue.</p> - -<p>"In these squares the tongue is sixteen inches long, on the outside, and -fourteen on the inside, marked in the same manner as the blade. The -inside length is two inches less than the outside, for the blade is two -inches wide, while the tongue is only an inch and a half. You must know -the square so that you can use it without stopping to study out its -meaning.</p> - -<p>"The tongue is sixteen inches long in this instance because it furnishes -a convenient measure for the placing of studs and furrings. The rule is -to put studs and furrings sixteen inches apart; but there is no law -which compels any carpenter or architect to follow it. Floor-joists are -usually placed at the same distance apart, though the rule is often -varied to meet the circumstances."</p> - -<p>"I don't know what a furring is," said one of the boys.</p> - -<p>"Furring a house is nailing strips of board, usually sawed at the mill -three inches wide, to the posts and studs for the sides, and the -floor-joist for the ceiling, on a room, at a distance of sixteen inches -apart, on which the laths are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[Pg 293]</a></span> nailed for the plastering. If they were -placed at any other distance from each other, it would make great -confusion and waste in lathing. Laths are sawed four feet in length, so -as to cover the space from the middle of one furring to the middle of -the third one from it. Each lath is nailed to four furrings."</p> - -<p>"But every room can not be exactly divided into spaces of sixteen inches -in its length or breadth," suggested Harry Franklin.</p> - -<p>"Very true; but the sixteen-inch division is used as far as it will go, -and the lather must cut his laths for the last one. All the confusion -comes in at the end then. If any other division were made he would have -to cut every lath he used."</p> - -<p>"But I have seen furrings only two inches wide," Lew Shoreham objected.</p> - -<p>"No matter whether they are one or six inches wide: the rule is -followed. But sixteen inches means from the centre of one furring to the -centre of the next one; and the difference in the width comes into the -space between them. In some places they lath upon the studs, inside, and -clapboard upon them on the outside, without boarding.</p> - -<p>"There is no particular reason why the blade<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[Pg 294]</a></span> of the square should be -two feet long, except that it is a convenient length. The width of both -the blade and the tongue is important. In mortising the sill for the -studs, we shall cut out a square hole of an inch and a half, which is -the width of the tongue. We will begin with the timber on which I am -standing, which is a foot square. The posts will be eight inches square. -Baxter, measure four inches from the end.</p> - -<p>"This point will be the centre of the mortise for the post," continued -the master carpenter when the students had marked the distance. "Now lay -off sixteen inches, and stick the point of the compasses well into the -wood so that we can see the mark. This is the centre of the mortise for -the first stud. The stuff for the studding is four inches by two. Set -the points of your compass one inch apart, and keep them so for the -present. Lay off one inch on each side of the point you have made in the -sill."</p> - -<p>Baxter did as he was told, and the rest of the students watched him.</p> - -<p>"The space between the outside points is two inches, just the thickness -of the stud," continued Mr. Brookbine. "Put one point of the compasses -in either outside hole you have made; rest the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[Pg 295]</a></span> tongue of the square -against the leg; let the blade hang over the side of the timber just far -enough to enable you to square across the upper face of the timber; -scratch a line across with the point of the compasses; in other words, -scribe it. Do the same with the other outside point. Now you have the -length of the mortise marked on the timber.</p> - -<p>"Place the tongue of the square against the outer face of the sill, its -length just even with the corner, and be accurate about it. Good! Now -scribe against the inside of the tongue. Move the square until the -outside of the tongue coincides with the line just made, and scribe as -before. The result is that you have ruled off the width of the tongue, -an inch and a half, at the same distance from the corner of the stick. -This gives you the other two sides of the mortise. You must measure, -mark, and scribe accurately, or our studs will not come in the right -place.</p> - -<p>"Now we will take a piece of studding, and finish the subject. The -mortise will be an inch and a half deep, and we are to mark off a tenon -to fit it. Set the square at the width of the tongue from the end of the -stick, scribe all around it. The thickness of the stud fits the mortise, -so that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[Pg 296]</a></span> we have to cut away none of it. Place the tongue against the -face of the stud and scribe it. Do the same on the other side. Place the -tongue against the mark made and scribe again. You may scribe in the -same manner across the end of the stud. The result is that the tenon of -an inch and a half by two inches is marked off at the distance of an -inch and a half from the face of the stick. You can see that nothing but -the saws are required to do the work."</p> - -<p>"We can do all that fast enough," said Ben Ludlow.</p> - -<p>"The trouble is that you will do it too fast, and be careless about it," -replied the instructor. "It requires sound judgment to do this work -well. As I have told you before, one may waste his wages ten times over -in cutting up lumber. Before you put the saw into a stick, you should -consider what the piece you cut off is good for. Most of the timber is -selected for the frame, so as to make the least waste. I shall have a -great deal to say to you on this subject as we go along. No matter how -much money you have, or who pays the bills, there must be no unnecessary -waste. That he cuts stock to good advantage, is one of the best -recommendations for a mechanic."</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[Pg 297]</a></span></p><p>"Don't we have to fit the tenons to the mortises, and number them, or -something of that sort?" asked Luke Bennington.</p> - -<p>"Some carpenters frame in that way, which answers very well in a small -building," replied the instructor. "We shall use in the boat-house -between four and five hundred studs, for example, and it would be more -work to number and find them than it would be to frame the whole of -them. We shall frame by what is sometimes called the square rule. Any -long stud will fit any place where a long stud is required. The -jack-studs, or short ones, are of different lengths, and we classify -them by their size. Of course the short posts cannot be used in the -sides or ends, or the side posts at the corners; but all the sticks of -the same class are interchangeable."</p> - -<p>The master carpenter ended his lecture. The timbers for the sills had -been laid out for framing, and under the direction of the instructor, -the students proceeded to mark them off for mortising. It would require -a whole series of books to follow him in all the details. In what manner -he gave his instruction has been shown. Four students were instructed -how to mark for the posts, and they proceeded to do it.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[Pg 298]</a></span></p><p>Four more were told how to mark for the tenons at the ends of the -posts, and as soon as they were fairly at them, four more were selected -to prepare the girders. A squad was put upon the braces, another on the -plates and a third on the studs. In a short time they were all at work. -Mr. Brookbine looked over the marks as fast as his time would admit. Of -course there were many mistakes, and these were pointed out.</p> - -<p>After an hour's use of the square and compasses, the boys needed a -change of work, and the instructor called for the framing-chisels and -mallets. All hands were set to mortising where the marks had been made -and proved to be correct. The students worked hard, and when night came -they did not feel much like skylarking.</p> - -<p>The next forenoon, while the pupils were at their studies, the master -carpenter went over the marks and measurements on the timbers. He was -surprised to find so few errors. Before noon he had arranged everything -for the afternoon. The boys worked hard, and the framing was not likely -to last long.</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[Pg 299]</a></span></p> - -<h2><span>CHAPTER XXX.</span> <span class="smaller">THE STUDENTS CELEBRATE THE COMPLETION OF THE BUILDING OF THE HOUSE.</span></h2> - -<p>The framing was finished, and the stone posts or the foundation in the -water were ready. Captain Gildrock had decided to have a submarine diver -to make a sure thing of the chinking up at the bottom. It was thought -best to make two cargoes of the foundations, especially as it was -necessary to carry a considerable quantity of other stone.</p> - -<p>Seven of the posts had been loaded upon the caisson, and the Sylph went -up to tow it down. The derrick had been erected in the centre of it, and -everything was ready to drop the foundations into their places. With the -handling of the stone the students had nothing to do; but they manned -the steamer, and moved the caisson as required. The experience obtained -in towing the caisson from Burlington had fitted the boys for their -work, and the tow was soon brought into position for setting the first -post.</p> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[Pg 300]</a></span></p><p>The two four-oar boats and the quarter-boats of the steamer were -manned, and were useful in carrying out the various guys and stays in -mooring the caisson. The posts were lowered into the water over one end -of the craft, the boom of the derrick being thirty feet long, so that -the equilibrium of the float could be better secured.</p> - -<p>The Goldwing was appropriated to the use of the sub-marine diver and his -assistants. He was the novelty of the occasion, for not one of the -students, with the exception of the two from New York city, had ever -seen the working of the apparatus. It was hardly a full exhibition, -however, for the water was not over the diver's head in any part of the -bay where he was to make a descent.</p> - -<p>The man dressed himself and put on his copper helmet in the -standing-room of the yacht; and the students gave him three cheers when -he was in full rig. The air-pump was placed on the forward deck, and the -hose through which the air was to be supplied to the diver was -conveniently arranged. A tub of stone chips of various size was ready to -be lowered down to him.</p> - -<p>"I don't see how they are to sling the post so as to drop it down into -the water plumb," said<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[Pg 301]</a></span> Oscar Chester, in the pilot-house of the Sylph, -which was alongside the caisson.</p> - -<p>"The quarrymen have drilled a hole in the top of each; the inside of -which is in the shape of the frustrum of a pyramid on two sides," -replied Dory Dornwood. "They have an iron made in the same shape, but -considerably smaller, which they drop into the hole. On the two slanting -sides they insert pieces of iron of uniform thickness, which just fill -up the hole. When these are in place you cannot pull out the middle -iron, to which the hoisting apparatus is attached."</p> - -<p>Oscar watched the process of making fast to the first post, and a sight -of the apparatus enabled him to comprehend its working. There were four -sheaves in the blocks used on the derrick; and the process of hoisting -and lowering, when the rope was wound up on a small cylinder, like that -on the machine, was very slow. But great power is obtained only at the -expense of speed. Bolly Millweed had been up to see the loading of the -posts on the caisson, and with two men at the winches it took hours to -put a single one on board.</p> - -<p>On his return he had a talk with Mr. Jepson, and the result of it was -that a cylinder was rigged<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[Pg 302]</a></span> in the shop which could be worked with the -engine. The distance of the derrick from the cylinder made it necessary -to use a very strong rope, which Captain Gildrock selected for the -purpose. A gong bell was rigged in the shop, to be rung with a cord.</p> - -<p>There was something for every student to do, and the work of each one -had been assigned to him. There were eight on the steamer, eight in the -boats, two on the Goldwing, four on the caisson, one of whom was to put -his whole mind upon the ringing of the gong bell, while Bolly Millweed, -who was regarded as the architect and engineer of the work, had three -assistants.</p> - -<p>Bolly was a great man on this occasion, and his father and mother stood -on Chowder Point, observing him with admiration. Doubtless Bolly "felt -his oats," but anyone who had been with Captain Gildrock a while did not -put on airs, and the architect conducted himself with becoming modesty. -He was really entitled to a great deal of credit, for not only the -plans, but many of the contrivances for setting the posts and raising -the building had been originated by him.</p> - -<p>Mr. Brookbine had insisted that it was next to impossible to set the -foundations properly in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[Pg 303]</a></span> water. Bolly thought there was no great -difficulty in doing this part of the work. He addressed himself to the -problem, and asked the master carpenter to select for him two straight -eight-inch timbers, thirty-two feet long. These were pinned together in -the form of a steel square, though with arms of equal length. Braces -were put on to keep the timbers exactly at right angles with each other.</p> - -<p>At the heel and the ends of this floating square he set up three poles, -straight and plumb, which were painted red. In the apparatus of the -school there was a surveyor's compass, with sights upon it. With this -instrument, used on the shore, he got the square in position, so that -the heel was where the first post was to be set. His three assistants -were in a boat, and moved the square by the signals he made. It was then -moored to the bottom, so that it could not be readily moved.</p> - -<p>The floating square was placed so that the outer corner would just touch -the inner corner of the post when it was set. At this point the -architect nailed a couple of laths so as to form two sides of a square -of the size of the foundation stones. In the middle and at each end of -the arms of the square, he also nailed laths, to mark the position<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[Pg 304]</a></span> of -four other posts, one of which formed the second corner of the end of -the building.</p> - -<p>Mr. Brookbine commended the engineer, though he had some doubts about -the floating square. The swinging of the caisson, or a slight rap from -the stone in lowering it, would knock the square out of place. Bolly -could only reply that the caisson must not swing, and the post must not -touch the square.</p> - -<p>At the order of the principal quarryman, Jim Alburgh rang the gong, the -long rope straightened, and the end of the post began to rise. The -square was three feet from one end of the caisson, which was moored at -the other end from the west side of the bay. Bolly was in one of the -boats with two of his assistants, the third being stationed on shore -with the compass, sighting along the red poles, to give notice of any -change in the position of the square.</p> - -<p>When it was raised high enough, the post was lowered slowly into the -water, a foot from the guides on the square. Bolly was nervous, and kept -telling the quarrymen not to let the stone touch the guides or the -square. The diver dropped into the water, and waded to the stone. When -the end of it was nearly on the bottom, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[Pg 305]</a></span> post was swung into place -so carefully that the marks were not disturbed. The diver chinked up the -stone, and it was accurately plumbed.</p> - -<p>When the first post was in place, the students gave three cheers. The -Sylph whistled lustily, and just at that moment the two Chesterfield -barges darted into Beech Hill Lake. They went over to the grove, where -they picked up a dozen of the Topovers. It did not look as though the -principal of the institute had much influence over them; for taking the -Topovers into their boats indicated that they were bent upon mischief.</p> - -<p>Captain Gildrock said nothing about the barges and their occupants, and -did not seem to notice them. The work proceeded as though they had been -on the other side of the lake. The Sylph moved the caisson into position -for laying the second post, which was on the side, to avoid changing the -mooring-ropes as much as possible.</p> - -<p>The Chesterfields rowed up to a point where they could see what was -going on, and watched the work for a while. It was no "circus" for them, -and they soon pulled to the shore on the west side of Hornet Bay. Dory -watched them from the pilot-house, and soon had occasion to report to -the principal that the Chesterfields and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[Pg 306]</a></span> Topovers had hold of the -mooring-rope of the caisson. He had not finished what he was saying -before the stone boat suddenly moved towards the site of the building, -and then knocked Bolly's square out of place.</p> - -<p>Captain Gildrock took command this time himself. The chief quarryman was -a constable. He asked all the rest of the men and boys to act as his -posse, and all hands were ordered into the steamer. The mischief-makers -had taken the mooring-rope into the Dasher, and had headed out into the -lake. The steamer darted after them. The boats let go the rope, and -attempted to escape by the way they had come. The Sylph was too much for -them, and both boats were captured. The principal directed the constable -to take the two coxswains and Tom Topover out of them, and they were -shut up in the ice-house on board of the steamer.</p> - -<p>The others were permitted to depart, which they were glad to do when -they found that Captain Gildrock "meant business." The prisoners were -kept till noon in the ice-house, when they were taken before a -magistrate, and a complaint made for trespass and for stealing the boats -on a former occasion. They were sent to the lock-up, but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[Pg 307]</a></span> Colonel -Buckmill came over before night and bailed out Commodore Twinker and -Jeff Monroe.</p> - -<p>At the trial a case was made out, and all the defendants were subjected -to a fine, which Tom's father would not pay, and he was kept in jail for -two weeks. Colonel Buckmill paid those of his students. He had warned -them before of the peril of meddling with the Beech Hill students, and -probably he did it again on this occasion. What good it did we may learn -from another book of this series. At any rate the Chesterfields and the -Topovers did not go to Beech Hill Lake again that year.</p> - -<p>Bolly arranged the square again, and the rest of the posts were set. The -sills were then loaded on the caisson, from which they were laid on the -posts. The rest of the lower timbers were put in place by the students, -with the help of the laborers only. The rafts of boards, which had been -secured to the shore until they were wanted, were towed to the frame, -and the racket of six-and-twenty hammers resounded through the grove for -the next two afternoons. The boys learned to drive nails, but there was -not so much fun in it, they found, when they came to make a business of -it. The sawing and fitting of the boards for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[Pg 308]</a></span> the floor gave some -variety, and they were required to sharpen their judgment in the -prevention of waste.</p> - -<p>While the students were at their studies, the laborers carried the -timbers of the frame to the platform, and the next job was to put them -together in sections. The caisson was securely moored off the east end -of the site by ropes leading to the shore. The boom of the derrick was -"topped up" until it was perpendicular to the deck of the craft. Slings -were rigged at the intersection of the three end posts with the plates, -from which three lines came together at the foot of the middle post.</p> - -<p>"Now, boys, we want three sailors," said Captain Gildrock, who attended -personally to the rigging. "What they have to do may be considered -dangerous in the country, though not more so than going upon the -cross-trees of a ship, and I shall call for volunteers."</p> - -<p>Every student raised his hand, for all of them wanted the difficult -positions. The principal selected three who had had some experience in -going aloft; and they were Dory Dornwood, Matt Randolph and Luke -Bennington.</p> - -<p>"You will take your places at the top ends of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[Pg 309]</a></span> the posts, and be hoisted -up with them. Hold on to the slings, and don't get your hands jammed in -them," continued the principal. "I shall want three more to go up on the -next section, and Glovering, Short, and Chester will be ready for this -duty. None of you will come down till the entire frame is raised."</p> - -<p>The fall from the derrick had been brought over in a boat, and hooked on -to the loops from the slings. The order to ring was given, for the power -was supplied by the engine in the shops, as before, and the section -began to rise. Mr. Miker, the lessee of the quarry, and his men, had -volunteered to assist at the raising. The grounds contained a great many -people who had come as spectators, and there were more volunteers to -take part than could be employed.</p> - -<p>Mr. Brookbine stood at one corner post, and Mr. Miker at the other, with -a stone-cutter at the middle one, all armed with iron bars. The -principal difficulty in raising the sections was in preventing the foot -of the post from moving from its place. A sling had been rigged three -feet from the tenon on each post, kept from slipping by a pin through -the hole in the brace mortise, to which a twofold purchase, made fast at -the other<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[Pg 310]</a></span> end to the sill, was attached. The purchase-tackle was hauled -taut, and a student was to slack it with a double turn around a timber, -as the post ascended. The iron bars were to be used in guiding the tenon -into the mortise.</p> - -<p>Everything worked precisely as had been intended; for Captain Gildrock -took no chances and incurred no risks. The machinery and the ropes were -strong, and all sorts of possible accidents had been provided for. The -students on the top of the moving section waved their caps when they -were well up in the air, and those below cheered them; but the principal -would not allow any boys' play which might distract the attention of the -workers.</p> - -<p>"Now man the check lines," called the principal, when the section -approached a perpendicular position.</p> - -<p>These were ropes passing through a single block, leading down in the -rear from the plates. Without these the section might have fallen over -upon the derrick when it reached an upright position. The check lines -were hauled taut, and paid out as the derrick rope brought it to its -permanent place. The tenons were successfully directed into the -mortises, and the men with the iron<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[Pg 311]</a></span> bars were relieved from the duty of -using them. Each of them had a spirit level, which was also a plumb. As -the section approached its proper position, the men applied the plumb.</p> - -<p>"Ring!" shouted the master carpenter; and the student on the caisson -pulled his rope. The section was not yet finally plumbed, but was -secured by ropes and board stays. The sailors on the plates cast off the -slings and the check lines, which were immediately attached to the -second section; and this one was raised in the same manner as the first -had been.</p> - -<p>By the check lines the students on the frame hauled up five single -blocks, which were made fast at the head of the long posts. A single -whip was rigged at each, and with these the side plates and the girders -were hoisted to the places where they were required. The sailors -inserted the tenons in the mortises, as the timbers were elevated in a -horizontal position, and drove in the pins.</p> - -<p>A great many contrivances unknown to carpenters were used, by the aid of -which many of the boys became men; but the reading about them will not -be half so exciting as was the actual use of them. When the timbers had -all been put in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[Pg 312]</a></span> place, including the studs in the sides, but not the -floor joists, the two sections were plumbed.</p> - -<p>The rest of the raising was done in the same manner. At noon all the -volunteers dined with the students, and a grand dinner was given in -honor of the occasion. Before night the raising was finished.</p> - -<p>A great collation was served on the lawn at sundown, and the Genverres -band played all the evening. The grounds were thronged with people, and -an impromptu dance, in which most of the students took part, closed the -festivities of the day.</p> - -<p>The rest of the Building of the House was a matter of detail, and the -work was done in shop time. By the first of November the boat-house was -shingled and clapboarded, the windows were put in, and a few temporary -doors were hung. During the winter the students got out the finish, and -the building was entirely completed on the first day of June of the -following year.</p> - -<p>The wharf had been finished according to Bolly Millweed's plan by the -middle of May. The parts of the truss bridge had been made in the shop -in the winter. The sides of the caisson were built up of the timbers -which had remained inside of it from the beginning. The architect fixed -its<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[Pg 313]</a></span> position with the compass from the shore. The Sylph towed rafts of -refuse stone to the enlarged caisson, and it was sunk into position. A -plank floor was laid on the top of it, and Bolly's dream became a -reality.</p> - -<p>Of course such an event as the completion of the great boat-house and -the wharf could not be passed by without a suitable celebration. This -included a magnificent collation, music on the lawn, and a big social -dance in the hall. Many people from Burlington attended it, and even Lew -Shoreham was willing to admit that the uniform of the Beech Hill -Industrial School was a big thing, inasmuch as no young lady would look -at a young man on that day who did not wear it. In fact it had come to -be regarded as an honorable distinction, and the students were proud to -wear it.</p> - -<p>The Building of the House by the students had given the school no little -reputation, and the "Tinkers" were lions in many places where they went. -Captain Gildrock had applications enough to quadruple the number of his -pupils, and he was considering the question of enlarging the sphere of -its usefulness from the beginning of the next year.</p> - -<p>Among those present at the celebration of the completion of the -boat-house were Mr. Plint the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[Pg 314]</a></span> architect, and the fat civil engineer, -Mr. Bridges. The former was so pleased with Bolly's work and his ideas, -that he offered him a place in his office at Albany, with a salary of -fifty dollars a month, as a draughtsman. Bolly did not want to leave the -school, but his father's circumstances made it his duty to accept the -offer.</p> - -<p>The civil engineer wanted a young man, and Lew Shoreham found a place -with him, for he had to earn his own living. Corny Minkfield and John -Brattle had places offered to them to run stationary engines in a marble -quarry; but as they were still young, the principal advised them to -remain another year at the school. A dozen of the students could have -obtained fair wages as carpenters, but they were counselled to continue -their studies.</p> - -<p>The thoughts of the boys at Beech Hill had a nautical tendency, and -Captain Gildrock was now ready to carry out his second great idea, which -was to build a sailing craft somewhat larger than the Goldwing; and the -next volume will explain how, in the midst of many adventures with the -Chesterfields and the Topovers, the students did all the work, from -"Stem to Stern," in the practical work of "Building the Boat."</p> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[Pg 315]</a></span></p> - -<div class="box2"> -<p class="center"><i>OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS.</i></p> - -<hr class="full" /> - -<h2>ARMY AND NAVY STORIES</h2> - -<p class="center">Six Volumes. Illustrated. Per vol., $1.50.</p> - -<hr /> - -<blockquote><p>1. <b>THE SOLDIER BOY;</b><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Or, Tom Somers in the Army.</span><br /> -<br /> -2. <b>THE SAILOR BOY;</b><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Or, Jack Somers in the Navy.</span><br /> -<br /> -3. <b>THE YOUNG LIEUTENANT;</b><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Or, Adventures of an Army Officer.</span><br /> -<br /> -4. <b>THE YANKEE MIDDY;</b><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Or, Adventures of a Navy Officer.</span><br /> -<br /> -5. <b>FIGHTING JOE;</b><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Or, The Fortunes of a Staff Officer.</span><br /> -<br /> -6. <b>BRAVE OLD SALT;</b><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Or, Life on the Quarter-Deck.</span></p></blockquote> - -<hr /> - -<p>This series of six volumes recounts the adventures of two brothers, Tom -and Jack Somers, one in the army, the other in the navy, in the great -civil war. The romantic narratives of the fortunes and exploits of the -brothers are thrilling in the extreme. Historical accuracy in the -recital of the great events of that period is strictly followed, and the -result is not only a library of entertaining volumes, but also the best -history of the civil war for young people ever written.</p> -</div> - -<hr /> - -<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[Pg 316]</a></span></p> - -<div class="box2"> -<p class="center"><i>OLIVER OPTIC'S BOOKS.</i></p> - -<hr class="full" /> - -<h2>YACHT CLUB SERIES.</h2> - -<p class="center">Uniform with the ever popular "Boat Club," Series. Completed in six -vols. 16mo. Illustrated. Per vol., $1.50.</p> - -<hr /> - -<blockquote><p>1. <b>LITTLE BOBTAIL;</b><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Or, The Wreck of the Penobscot.</span><br /> -<br /> -2. <b>THE YACHT CLUB;</b><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Or, The Young Boat-Builders.</span><br /> -<br /> -3. <b>MONEY-MAKER;</b><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Or, The Victory of the Basilisk.</span><br /> -<br /> -4. <b>THE COMING WAVE;</b><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Or, The Treasure of High Rock.</span><br /> -<br /> -5. <b>THE DORCAS CLUB;</b><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Or, Our Girls Afloat.</span><br /> -<br /> -6. <b>OCEAN BORN;</b><br /> -<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Or, The Cruise of the Clubs.</span></p></blockquote> - -<hr /> - -<p>The series has this peculiarity, that all of its constituent volumes are -independent of one another, and therefore each story is complete in -itself. "Oliver Optic" is perhaps the favorite author of the boys and -girls of this country, and he seems destined to enjoy an endless -popularity. He deserves his success, for he makes very interesting -stories, and inculcates none but the best sentiments; and the "Yacht -Club" is no exception to this rule.—<i>New Haven Jour. and Courier</i>.</p> -</div> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Square and Compasses, by Oliver Optic - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SQUARE AND COMPASSES *** - -***** This file should be named 52351-h.htm or 52351-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/2/3/5/52351/ - -Produced by Chris Curnow, Martin Pettit and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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