Part 13 (2/2)

The studding-sail boom, to which the boats were fastened, was supported by a topping-lift from above, and kept in position, at right angles with the side of the s.h.i.+p, by guys extending forward and aft.

”Stand by that fore guy!” shouted Shuffles, as he sprang upon the rail.

”Cast off!”

”Lively, fellows!” said Wilton, when he saw that the third lieutenant intended to swing in the boom to the s.h.i.+p's side.

”Stand by the after guy of the studding-sail boom!” continued Shuffles, with becoming energy.

Both his orders were promptly obeyed; but seeing that his movement would be too late, he rushed to the topping-lift, and cast it off, causing the swinging boom to drop into the water, just as the last boy was about to slide down into the professors' boat. Of course the luckless fellow went into the water; but he was promptly picked up by his companions in mischief.

”If I'm caught, Bob Shuffles, you look out for breakers!” cried Wilton, as the third lieutenant appeared at the gangway again.

The tide was coming in, and the boats swung so far abaft the boom that it had fallen clear of them when it dropped into the water. Wilton and Monroe were prompt to avail themselves of their present success, and the boys sat in the boats, with their oars up, ready to pull as soon as the order was given.

”Let fall!” said Wilton; and the eight oars of the professors' barge dropped into the water, and the rowers placed them in readiness for the first stroke.

Monroe, in the third cutter, followed the example of his princ.i.p.al, and was hardly a second behind him.

”Give way!” added Wilton.

”Give way!” repeated Monroe; and the two boats gathered way and darted off towards the nearest point of the sh.o.r.e.

Thus far the enterprise of ”our fellows” was entirely successful, and Shuffles stood on the gangway, chagrined at the defeat which had attended his efforts to prevent the escape of the runaways.

”Stand by to clear away the first cutter!” shouted he, suddenly and with energy, as he made his way to the davits, where the boat indicated was suspended.

”Cast off the gripes, and man the falls!” he continued when the watch were collected at the scene of action. ”Mr. Kendall, you will inform the captain what has happened.”

Within three minutes, the first cutter was in the water, for the crew had been frequently exercised in the evolution of lowering boats, and performed it with remarkable facility for boys. Before the first cutter touched the water, the captain, the princ.i.p.al, and all the professors, came on deck.

Mr. Lowington was entirely cool, though everybody else appeared to be intensely excited. The crew of the first cutter were piped away, and at the princ.i.p.al's suggestion, the third lieutenant was sent off in the boat to prevent the landing of the rebellious pupils.

”Up oars! Let fall! Give way!” said Shuffles, in the boat, delivering his orders in rapid succession; and the first cutter darted off in chase of the runaways.

CHAPTER VI.

THE FOURTH OF JULY.

The first cutter was manned by her regular crew, who had been trained with the utmost care to pull together, while Wilton, in the professors'

barge, which was of the same size, had some very indifferent oarsmen.

The runaways had made up their force of such material as they could obtain, and though all were somewhat accustomed to rowing, they had not been drilled to work together; they were not the unit of power in pulling a boat. Shuffles, therefore, had a manifest advantage, and he was determined to bring back the fugitives.

The second cutter, in charge of Paul Kendall, was cleared away, and, with Mr. Lowington and Mr. Fluxion on board, left the s.h.i.+p to take part in the pursuit. The chase promised to be an exciting one, for Wilton and Monroe were straining every nerve to reach the sh.o.r.e before they were overtaken. They were making for the nearest land, and having just the number of hands required to pull the boat, each of them was obliged to use an oar himself. They had no c.o.xswains, and Wilton, at the bow oar of the professors' barge, could not see what was ahead, though he kept the pursuing boats in full view.

The nearest land, not more than half a mile from the s.h.i.+p, was a point covered with salt marsh, above which was a cove, whose opening was about ten rods in width. Wilton was making for the point below the cove, but his calculations were made without judgment or discretion. If he reached the land, his party would be obliged to walk a mile in order to get round the cove, on a narrow strip of marsh, where they might be intercepted. But the fatal defect in his plan of operations was a failure to consider the depth of water between the s.h.i.+p and the point.

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