Part 16 (1/2)

”They don't look like being seasick at present.”

”Wait till we get out into the heavy sea,” laughed the princ.i.p.al, as he went forward.

At eight bells the s.h.i.+p was abreast of the last island, and she began to pitch and roll a little, though the motion was hardly perceptible, until she was well off from the land. Professor Paradyme was the first victim of seasickness, and the boys all laughed when they saw the woe-begone expression on the face of the learned man; but some of those who laughed the loudest were the first to be taken by the ridiculous malady.

The Young America pitched and rolled heavily as she receded from the land, and nothing more was said by the students about putting on more sail. The spray broke over the bow, and washed the decks; but most of the boys enjoyed the scene as they had never enjoyed anything before.

”What are you doing here, sir?” demanded Mr. Lowington, as he went forward, and discovered Wilton skulking under the lee of the foremast.

”You were told to stay in your mess room, sir!”

”I couldn't, sir,” whined the culprit.

”You could, and you will.”

”I was seasick, sir.”

”I can't help it; you must stay in your mess room,” added the princ.i.p.al, sternly.

”If you please, sir, I will obey orders if you will let me stay on deck,” said Wilton, humbly.

”No; return to your room?” and Wilton was compelled to obey.

It was a very severe punishment to him and Monroe to be obliged to stay in the steerage during the first trip of the Young America.

CHAPTER VII.

HEAVING THE LOG.

The Young America, under topsails and top-gallant sails, was making about ten knots an hour. After pa.s.sing the last island in the bay, she was headed to the south-east, which brought the wind over the starboard quarter. The s.h.i.+p was of the clipper cla.s.s, though not as sharp as many of this model. It was found that her sailing ability was excellent, and Mr. Lowington and Mr. Fluxion expressed much satisfaction at her performance, both in respect of speed and weatherly qualities.

When the s.h.i.+p left her moorings, the princ.i.p.al had not decided where to go, or how long to remain at sea, intending to be governed by the circ.u.mstances of the hour. It had never been his purpose to keep her at one anchorage, but to go from port to port, remaining a few days or a few weeks at each, as the discipline of the s.h.i.+p and the progress of the boys in their studies suggested. There were many elements of seamans.h.i.+p which could not be effectively practised while the s.h.i.+p lay at anchor, such as heaving the log, sounding and steering, though the boys had been carefully instructed in the theory of these operations.

The instructor in mathematics, the boatswain, the carpenter, and the sailmaker, all of whom were good seamen, were in great demand as soon as the s.h.i.+p was under way; but when she had sea-room enough, the helm was handed over to the boys, under the charge of a juvenile quartermaster.

Peaks stood by, and gave the necessary directions, till the students were able to do the work themselves.

”Now, my lads, we will heave the log,” said the boatswain, when the s.h.i.+p was well out from the land.

”We know how to do that,” replied Smith, one of the quartermasters.

”I dare say you do, young gentlemen; but in my opinion, you can't do it.

You know how to write a psalm, but I don't believe you could write one,”

added Peaks. ”You have to learn how to do these things by the feeling, so that they will do themselves, so to speak. After-guard, stand by to haul in the log-line. Here, quartermaster, you will hold the gla.s.s, and the officer of the deck will throw the chip.”

”We know all about it, Mr. Peaks,” repeated Smith.

”I know you do; but you can't tell within five knots how fast the s.h.i.+p is going,” laughed the boatswain. ”Let's do it right a few times, and then you can be trusted.”