Part 25 (1/2)
”Why not?” asked Tom Nettle.
”Suppose we should have occasion to tack, or to take in sail in a hurry?
Have we got to wait for you to finish your plate of chowder?”
”We are all as hungry as bears, Captain Gordon,” added Frank Thompson.
”We can't stand it any longer.”
”Part of you must stand it half an hour longer. Captain Briskett has the helm, and the larboard watch will remain on deck, the starboard watch go below.”
The captain's watch tumbled down the companion way, ranged themselves round the table, and went to work as though they had not eaten anything for a month. As they are doing very well, we will return to the deck, and listen a few moments to the remarks of the mate's watch.
Paul had seated himself by the side of the helmsman, and was asking questions in regard to the reef, the depth of water in the harbor, and other questions of interest only to nautical persons. The rest of the watch had gathered in a group on the forecastle. It was unfortunate that so many of the refractory spirits had been chosen into the same watch; but there were Tom Kettle, Frank Thompson, and Samuel Nason, all three of whom had once been expelled from the club for misconduct, and only been readmitted on their solemn promise to mend their manners, and behave like gentlemen in future.
”I don't like it,” said Tom; ”and if the rest of the fellows will back me up, I will go below and have dinner with the crowd.”
”I will back you up, for one,” said Frank.
”And I, for another,” added Samuel.
”But Captain Gordon gave a good reason why some of us should remain on deck,” suggested one of the boys.
”No, he didn't. What is there to do? We shan't have to touch a sail this hour--see if we do,” retorted Tom.
”But we might have occasion to do so, and for one, I am willing to observe the discipline of the vessel,” said Charles Lawrence.
”I don't like the idea of having old Gordon domineering over us for a week,” added Frank. ”I don't care so much about the dinner as I do the spirit the old fellow exhibited. He placed himself before the companion way, just as though he had been the captain of a s.h.i.+p, and we were all common sailors.”
”We will cure him of that before we have been with him many days,” added Tom.
”I'll bet we will,” answered Frank; ”and I think the present is the best time to begin. How many of you will make a grand rush into the cabin?”
There were only four of them who were willing to take this rash step.
”Come on, then,” said Tom, ”I will go if there is only one fellow to back me up.”
”We will follow you,” added Frank. ”Go ahead, Tom!”
”You had better count the cost before you go any farther,” interposed Charles Lawrence. ”You know we all promised to obey Captain Gordon in everything he directed, whether on sh.o.r.e or on board.”
”We didn't expect he was going to treat us like servants--like dogs.”
”Captain Littleton wouldn't let him domineer over us in that style if he were here. Come on, boys,” said Tom, as he led the way aft.
”Where are you going, boys?” demanded Captain Briskett, as the rebellious watch appeared in the standing room.
”Going below to get our dinner.”
”Not yet; you must wait till the watch is relieved. You heard the captain's orders.”
”We don't care for the captain's orders. We are not going to be treated like dogs.”