The Project Gutenberg EBook of Northern Lands, by William T. Adams 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: Northern Lands Young America in Russia and Prussia Author: William T. Adams Release Date: January 27, 2017 [EBook #54059] Language: English Character set encoding: UTF-8 *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NORTHERN LANDS *** Produced by David Edwards, David K. Park, illustration images from The Internet Archive (TIA) and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from scanned images of public domain material from the Google Books project.) THE SECOND DEGREE Page 129. YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD—SECOND SERIES. NORTHERN LANDS; OR, YOUNG AMERICA IN RUSSIA AND PRUSSIA. A Story of Travel and Adventure. BY WILLIAM T. ADAMS (OLIVER OPTIC), AUTHOR OF "OUTWARD BOUND," "SHAMROCK AND THISTLE," "RED CROSS," "DIKES AND DITCHES," "PALACE AND COTTAGE," "DOWN THE RHINE," "UP THE BALTIC," ETC. BOSTON: LEE AND SHEPARD, PUBLISHERS. NEW YORK: LEE, SHEPARD AND DILLINGHAM. 1872. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1872, By WILLIAM T. ADAMS, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. Electrotyped at the Boston Stereotype Foundry, 19 Spring Lane. TO MY EXCELLENT FRIEND THE HON. DAVIS DIVINE, OF SAN JOSÉ, CALIFORNIA, WHOSE ACQUAINTANCE I HAD THE PLEASURE OF MAKING IN ST. PETERSBURG, AND WITH WHOM I TRAVELLED THROUGH RUSSIA, AUSTRIA, TURKEY, ITALY, SPAIN, AND PORTUGAL, This Volume IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED. YOUNG AMERICA ABROAD. By OLIVER OPTIC. A Library of Travel and Adventure in Foreign Lands. First and Second Series; six volumes in each Series. 16mo. Illustrated. First Series. I. OUTWARD BOUND; or, Young America Afloat. II. SHAMROCK AND THISTLE; or, Young America in Ireland and Scotland. III. RED CROSS; or, Young America in England and Wales. IV. DIKES AND DITCHES; or, Young America in Holland and Belgium. V. PALACE AND COTTAGE; or, Young America in France and Switzerland. VI. DOWN THE RHINE; or, Young America in Germany. Second Series. I. UP THE BALTIC; or, Young America in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. II. NORTHERN LANDS; or, Young America in Russia and Prussia. III. CROSS AND CRESCENT; or, Young America in Turkey and Greece. In preparation. IV. SUNNY SHORES; or, Young American in Italy and Austria. In preparation. V. VINE AND OLIVE; or, Young American in Spain and Portugal. In preparation. VI. ISLES OF THE SEA; or, Young America Homeward Bound. In preparation. PREFACE. Northern Lands, the second volume of the second series of "Young America Abroad," describes the varied experience of the juvenile tourists of the Academy Squadron in the Baltic, and during their journeys in Russia and Prussia, and their voyages between the different ports in these countries. Compared with most other countries of Europe, but little has been written about Russia, and the greater portion of this volume related to that interesting nation. The author writes from his own notes and recollection, so far as scenery, manners and customs are concerned, but he has made diligent study and use of all the material within his reach, including much that was gathered abroad. Perhaps the young people will vote that this is the dryest book the author has ever presented to them, because it contains the most useful information; but he hopes they will not neglect the historical part, which is sometimes stranger than any fiction. But the volume is not without its story, which may be regarded as a reflection, on a small scale, of the political experience of the American citizen. Doubtless our young friends will sympathize with Scott the Joker in his devotion to fair play; and well will it be for our country when this spirit shall pervade the caucus and the voting places, and those who are selfishly striving for office are as effectually rebuked and ignored as they were in the Academy Squadron. The next volume of the series, from the nature of the circumstances, rather than from any fixed intention on the part of the writer, will contain much more of stirring incident than the present. The author, who has so long been before the public as a writer of juvenile books, and who has so often "launched a volume," has felt that his welcome must be nearly worn out, and that he had no right to expect the continued favor of his army of young friends. He was therefore very agreeably surprised at the kind reception given to "Up the Baltic," the sale of which was fully equal to the most fortunate of its predecessors in the first series. The author is very grateful for this new exhibition of kindness on the part of his young friends, and he hopes that the present volume will not only interest, but instruct and benefit them. Harrison Square, Boston, December 18, 1871. CONTENTS. CHAPTER PAGE I. At the Picnic in the Island. 11 II. An excited Meeting of Officers and Seamen. 29 III. Finland and the Agitators. 49 IV. Two Hours in Åbo, and the Bangwhangers. 68 V. An exciting Election. 86 VI. A Call at Helsingfors. 105 VII. Wyborg and the Second Degree. 122 VIII. The Lecture on Russia. 141 IX. Sights in St. Petersburg. 171 X. Billy Bobstay and Friends. 191 XI. Palaces and Gardens. 209 XII. The Journey to Moscow. 226 XIII. In the Kremlin of Moscow. 244 XIV. Down the Volga. 261 XV. The Movements of the Runaways. 279 XVI. Something About Prussia and Germany. 295 XVII. From Königsberg to Danzig. 309 XVIII. The Stranded Steamer in the Baltic. 323 [7] [8] [9] [10] XIX. Berlin, Potsdam, and Dresden. 336 XX. Great Changes in the Squadron. 353 NORTHERN LANDS; OR, YOUNG AMERICA IN RUSSIA AND PRUSSIA. CHAPTER I. AT THE PICNIC ON THE ISLAND. "I don't believe in it!" exclaimed De Forrest, the third lieutenant of the Young America. "I can't say I like the idea very much," replied Beckwith, the first master. "Tom Cantwell is a great scholar, without a particle of doubt, but he is no more of a seaman than that English fellow, Clyde Blacklock, and ought not to be captain." "But under the rule of the ship, it can't be helped," added De Forrest. "Then the rule ought to be changed. There are not half a dozen fellows in the squadron who believe that Cantwell ought to be captain." "He hasn't been three months in the squadron. He served his first month in the steerage, and then jumped up to fourth master. Next month he will be the captain of the ship. He doesn't know enough to set a topsail, and couldn't get the ship under way to save his life." "I shouldn't care so much about his seamanship, if he were only a decent fellow," continued Beckwith. "I don't want a fellow over me who don't know anything. I can't respect him." "Well, what are you going to do about it? We can't help ourselves." "I don't know that we can," replied De Forrest. "Cantwell is a great scholar, and seems to know everything without studying it; but he is mean, conceited, overbearing, and tyrannical. I don't believe the principal likes the idea of his being captain." "But he can get along better as captain than he could as first lieutenant; for he has only to say, 'Get under way,' 'Come to anchor,' 'Take in the main-topsail,' and the executive officer gives all the orders in detail." "That's true. Yet the captain is expected to know all these things, and to see that they are properly done. But, after all, we are not sure that Cantwell will be captain," suggested De Forrest. "He has had a perfect mark in every lesson during the month; and I know that Captain Lincoln slipped up on his geometry two or three times." "But the captain has beaten him in his seamanship, I know." "There's the difficulty. We have been in port, or lying at anchor among these islands, nearly all the time, and there has been no chance to make anything in seamanship. We have hardly had an exercise in which marks were given out since we made the coast of Norway." "Perhaps we shall, yet." "If we do, Cantwell won't be captain, but he may be a lieutenant; and that is almost as bad." "We won't cry till we are hurt, then," said De Forrest; "though I think something ought to be done to keep us out of such a scrape in the future. I have a plan in my head, which, I think, would work first rate, and be a fair thing for all." "What is it?" asked Beckwith. "I'll tell you. As the matter now stands, a fellow may jump from the steerage into the captain's cabin without any experience at all in commanding, especially, as during the last month, when we are running about on shore, and we don't do much in seamanship." "But you know that this struggle for rank puts the fellows on their good behavior; and the principal would lose his sheet anchor if the present system were abandoned." "I don't propose to abandon it entirely. I would like to have the first five officers made elective." "You would have the captain and the four lieutenants chosen by ballot?" asked Beckwith, interested in the plan. [11] [12] [13] "Precisely so." "But the fellows in the steerage could have it all their own way under such a plan. They could make Clyde Blacklock, Sandford, or any such fellow captain." "No, you haven't heard me out. The captain and the four lieutenants shall be chosen from the cabin officers only." "I rather like that." "Any fellow will see that it is a fair thing." "And who would be candidates for masters, pursers, and lieutenants?" asked Beckwith. "They must obtain their rank by their merit. By my plan, ten of the fifteen cabin officers of the ship must get their positions by their scholarship, conduct, and seamanship, just as they do now; but the captain or lieutenant must first have served as master, purser, or midshipman. Then a fellow can't be captain till he has served at least one month as a cabin officer." "The plan pleases me; but of course we can't tell how it would work without a trial." "It would work first rate. As the matter now stands, no officer has any inducement to please anybody but the principal and the instructors, who give him his marks. By my plan he would have to keep on the right side of his inferiors in rank, or they would throw him over at the next election." "And there would be lots of electioneering for office," laughed Beckwith. "Well, that would give us a little excitement. Besides, we are all to be American citizens, and we ought to learn how these things are done. Under this plan Cantwell wouldn't behave as he does now in the cabin. He is nothing but a lump of selfishness. He wouldn't take all the breast of the chicken, or drown his coffee with the last gill of milk on board. I have been thinking of this thing for a week, and have talked it over with some of the fellows. All that I have spoken with like it first rate." "I do." "I am going to get up a petition to the principal, asking him to make this change in the system, and I want to get every fellow's name upon it." "I will sign, for one," replied Beckwith. "But you haven't said a word about the commodore, De Forrest." "That's only a kind of ornamental office, and I don't care much about it any way; but I think that only the captains should be eligible to the position." Precisely as men do such things on a larger scale, De Forrest, satisfied that he had added one adherent to the "cause" he was advocating, passed on to "buzz" another officer on the same subject. The students connected with the squadron were enjoying a picnic on one of the uninhabited Aland Islands. It was a lovely spot, for the island was nearly covered by a beautiful grove of pines, and one slope of it had a green carpet of verdure. The sixteen boats of the squadron and of the yachts were moored at the shore, and there was not a ripple on the sea to disturb them. The ship's band had played all the pieces they knew; and a great variety of games had been tried, with but indifferent success. The boys declared that it could be no picnic at all without the ladies. Possibly the attendance of Mrs. Kendall and Mrs. Shuffles suggested this idea to them; and, though these ladies were young, lively, and agreeable, the meagreness of the female representation on the occasion seemed to be only an aggravation. Doubtless all of them had attended picnics and other social gatherings, where the gentler sex is the charm of the occasion, and they could not help feeling the loneliness of the situation. Besides, the locality itself was suggestive of utter isolation from the rest of the world. All around them was a multitude of islands, but not a habitation of any kind could be seen; not a human being, not a quadruped, not even a bird enlivened the scene. The water was as calm as the repose of a mountain lake, with not a single white sail to relieve the gaze of the beholder. The squadron was anchored behind an island, where it could not be seen. And the boys knew that they were north of the sixtieth parallel of latitude,—nearer to the north pole than any of them had ever been before; and the consciousness of this fact seemed to add to the lonesomeness of the place. The days were very long and the nights very short, and it was quite impossible to feel at home in such a region. They were not the first to feel in this locality that the great, busy world was far to the south of them, and to be impressed by the silence and quiet of the place under such circumstances. A distinguished lady, in narrating her voyage among these islands, says, "We never lost sight of the shore, and sometimes were so near it that it seemed as though we could leap to it from the boat. Yet I have never seen anything so desolate as the voyage during this first day. On the open sea we should not complain; but here, so near the land, and not a boat upon the water, not a living creature on the shore, not a garden, not a human being, not a dog, not even a fishing net, to show that man had been there,—there was something awful in it." And yet there is no lack of the beautiful in nature to charm the eye, for the islands present an endless variety of forms, with green slopes, with rocky steeps, and with forest-crowned heights. But one may be lonely even in Paradise; and silence is sometimes more oppressive than the roar of the tempest, or the din of the crowded city. The students had resorted to all the games in the catalogue of dignified sports available to young men; but the most exhilarating under ordinary circumstances were dull and heavy on the present occasion. In the middle of the afternoon they had abandoned in despair all attempts to have "a good time;" and now they were seated on the rocks, or stretched [14] [15] [16] [17] at full length upon the grass, engaged in discussion and conversation. Possibly De Forrest was forced by the quiet of the scene to agitate reform in the affairs of the squadron, which, to some extent, occupied his thoughts during the stay of the vessels among the islands. With the zeal of youth and inexperience, he believed that he had originated a new idea, that he had discovered a fatal flaw in the working of the system on which the squadron was organized. But his "original idea" had long before engaged the attention of the principal. Years before he had foreseen that the very difficulty which now appeared might arise. It is true that he had provided no remedy, except the general rule that an incompetent officer might be removed when his unfitness was apparent; but he had very carefully considered the question and the consequences which it involved. The third lieutenant of the Young America was not the only student who had observed and noted the remarkable scholarship of Cantwell. In the midst of such a lively competition for the honors of the squadron, which were not meaningless laurels,—for a state-room in the cabin was a substantial luxury, independent of the desire to command rather than obey,—the students did not fail to notice the character of the recitations, and many kept a record of the value of them; so that the standing of Cantwell was well understood in the cabin and in the steerage. The obnoxious student was a thorough bookworm; but he was cold, stiff, selfish, and haughty. He never did anything or said anything that rendered him liable to discipline; but there was not a boy in the squadron who had so few friends, if he had any at all. His father was a very wealthy man, who supplied him liberally with money. It was said that he had been expelled from an academy where he was fitting for college on account of a difficulty into which his unpopularity had driven him. His fellow-students hated him so cordially that they were unable to conceal their real feelings. He was attacked in such an ingenious way that he seemed to be the aggressor instead of the person assailed, and the whole blame of the riot was cast upon him. When Prince Bismarck decided that German unification required a war with France; he was skilful enough to make the latter take the initiative, and France was foolish enough to accept the issue. In like manner Cantwell, while really the objective force in the quarrel with his fellow-students, was weak enough to assume the subjective attitude; and, as France was almost annihilated for her folly, which deprived her of the sympathy and support of any other respectable power, he was ignominiously expelled for his conduct. Like scores of others under the ban of expulsion on shore, he drifted into the Academy Squadron. He was not a thorough seaman, as Captain Lincoln and most of the officers were, neither was he so utterly ignorant and entirely incompetent as De Forrest and others declared him to be. But he was not qualified for either of the high positions which the officers feared he would obtain. De Forrest opened his theory to another officer of the squadron. He had already spoken to half a dozen of them, and created as many advocates of his plan, each of whom, interested in the scheme, went to work upon as many more of the unconverted. In another half hour there were a dozen who were entirely satisfied that the Academy Squadron would be utterly ruined if Cantwell was elevated to the rank of captain. This dozen were in turn soon at work upon another dozen, and the converts increased as a continued proportional. This process, so often repeated, soon stirred up a lively agitation among the crowd of students on the island. The principal, the instructors, and the party from the yachts, with Captain Lincoln and two other officers, were seated on a rock apart from the others, engaged in conversation. They did not observe anything unusual among the students, who seemed to be remarkably quiet, considering that they were at liberty to follow their own inclinations. The agitators had an excellent opportunity to carry on their operations without attracting the attention of the principal and his assistants. The subject under discussion concerned the young officers even more than the seamen, and De Forrest's plan seemed to be so fair and so practical that most of them gave in their adherence without much hesitation. The crew, who were farther removed from the glittering prizes, which were to be limited to the inferior officers of the cabin, were not so readily converted. "I don't see it," said Scott, the joker, when Beckwith approached him on the subject. "You want to make a little one- horse aristocracy in the cabin, and shut out us fellows in the steerage from any chance at the big things." "Not at all," replied the first master. "Yes, you do. Take my own case, if you please. I'm a genius of the first water. I got a pile of merit marks for getting tight on finkel, and making an excursion to Stockholm. During all this time, of course I was marked high on all studies. I used to talk Greek when I was a baby, and nobody could understand me. And of course I am marked high in that branch now. In Latin I always could decline faster than any other fellow. French and German I learned of my nurse, who was brought up in an Irish Canadian family, and married a Dutchman. None of these things ever give me any trouble, you see, and I am marked high. In seamanship I got a hundred and fifty for topping up the spanker boom in a seaman-like manner. Now, I expect to be captain on the first of next month, and you cabin nobs are getting up a conspiracy to deprive me of my rights. I won't stand it, Mr. Beckwith. I am an American citizen in embryo. My fathers and mothers all fought, bled, and died for the dearest rights of man. My grandfather was killed in battle six months before he was married; and I should be a degenerate son of a glorious sire if I permitted you to pull wool over my optical members in this horrible manner." "Be serious, will you, for a moment?" interposed the earnest officer. "I am serious. You ask me to sign a petition to change the solid principles on which the eternal order of events is founded; and I respectfully decline to do so, Mr. Beckwith. In other words, not for Joseph." "But you don't understand the matter, Scott." "You cast an imputation upon my perceptive faculties." "Nothing of the sort. You talk so fast that you won't hear what I have to say." [18] [9] [20] [21] "You say that the captain of this noble ship must either be selected or be chosen from the cabin officers. Am I right?" "You are." "I am not the captain of the ship this month; neither have I the honor to be one of the cabin officers; ergo I cannot be elected captain for the month of June next ensuing." "You are certainly right; but—" "Then I understand the matter perfectly; and this movement is a conspiracy to prevent me from being captain next month. I deserve to be captain, and I respectfully submit that this is my inalienable right, inherent in the contract under which I was sent to school. I object, I protest, I denounce the vile scheme as a compact with infamy. By the way, Beckwith, I didn't think you would treat me in this unhandsome manner. We were always good friends, and I never did anything to injure you. And I was always willing to help you spend your money when I hadn't too much of my own to dispose of." "Come, Scott, be reasonable." "That's the very thing I ask of you—be reasonable, and don't try to cut my out of my chance of being Captain next month." "Of course you haven't any more chance of being captain than you have of being Czar of Russia next month." "Don't you think I should make a good czar?" "No doubt of it," laughed Beckwith. "Are you quite sure the Russians won't get up a revolution after they have seen me?" "If they only knew what a jolly good fellow you were, they would be likely to do so." "That's sensible; and I may go into the czar business, after all. And I may be captain next month, if you nobs don't cut me out of my rights." "But it is no worse for you than for any other fellow in the steerage. I may be where you are next month; then it will hit me as hard as it does you." "Ah! then you are sawing off your own nose—are you?" "For the general good, I am." "Noble, self-sacrificing creature! Receive the homage of a humble admirer." "You, or any other fellow in the steerage, may become a master, purser, or midshipman, by your merit, and then you may be captain, or a lieutenant, the next month." "But I shall have to wait a whole month before I can reach the summit of my lofty ambition. That's too long to wait." "I ask you to go with us for the public good." "Pro bono publico! There you touch me where I am weak. For the public good I would sacrifice this poor body to gout and dyspepsia. I would eat grand dinners, as the aldermen do, at the public expense; I would accept any fat office in which I had nothing to do but draw my salary; I would be governor or president, and receive the homage of the people, for the public good. There's my weak point." "You know Cantwell?" "Do I know him! Do I not know him? Am I unacquainted with the blooming youth who thinks he must wind up the universe every morning, or something will break before night? Ought not the deck to be carpeted when he walks upon it? Ought we not to have a guard of marines to present arms to him when he appears in the waist? Haven't I worn out three caps in saluting him?" "You understand him, then?" "Mr. Cantwell is a great man; Mr. Cantwell is a profound scholar; Mr. Cantwell knows what's what. Why, he is so much above us common, humdrum sort of fellows, that we ought to get down on our knees when he condescends to show himself." "Exactly so, Scott. And, unless we can get this change in the tenure of office—" "Hold on! Will you oblige me by translating that high-flown expression?" "Of course you know what the expression means," replied Beckwith, impatiently. "Perhaps I do; but I want to know what you mean by it." "I mean a change in the manner in which the offices are obtained and held." "You mean right, as you always do." "Well, unless we get this change at once, Cantwell will be the next captain." "He can't well be captain, and he can't well be otherwise." "That's so." [22] [3] [24] "And you intend to put a stopper on him?" "He isn't fit to be captain, and he can't well be, as you say. In one word, are you with us? Yes or no." "Yes or no. I must have time to think about it. When you attack a fellow's inalienable rights, and all that sort of thing, I'm rather inclined to go in for the bottom dog. The captaincy for next month lies between Cantwell and me. For the public good, I am willing to waive my own right, but I am not quite so clear that I ought to waive the right of Mr. Cantwell, who is, by all odds, the greatest man in the ship." "You will do the right thing, Scott; I know you will," said Beckwith, moving off. "Of course I will. I can't possibly do otherwise." Beckwith walked away, for he saw Cantwell approaching him. By this time the fourth master was conscious that something which concerned him was in progress among his shipmates, for, as he came near the little groups which were discussing the proposed change in the "tenure of office," he observed that they either separated or suddenly changed the conversation. His approach, wherever he went, invariably produced a sensation. All hands watched him, and avoided him with even more care than usual. Possibly his self-conceit prevented him from knowing that he was very unpopular among his companions; but they did not avoid him generally, as at the present time. He had no suspicion of the nature of the agitation among the students; but his observation of their conduct led him to the conclusion that they intended to play off some practical joke or trick upon him. He was on his guard from that moment; but he was fully resolved to be the victim rather than the assailant on this occasion. Scott stood just where Beckwith had left him. Instead of walking away, as the others had done, when Cantwell approached, he looked at him, and his expression was remarkably good-natured, and rather inviting for an interview. He was almost the first one he met who did not avoid him. The fourth master walked towards the joker, who, though not required by the regulations to do so when off duty, promptly raised his cap, and manifested a rather extravagant deference towards his superior. Cantwell was a tall, slender young man of seventeen. Like many other great students, he was somewhat near-sighted, and wore eye-glasses. He was an exceedingly well-formed person, and was scrupulously nice in regard to his dress. He had captured one of the new uniforms served out when he was promoted to his present rank, and it was a much better fit than the officers usually obtained. "Do you happen to know the drift of all these private conferences which I observe, Scott?" asked Cantwell, raising his head so that he could see through the eye-glass, which had slipped down upon his nose. "Yes, sir, I happen to know; and, as the matter concerns me more nearly than any other fellow in the squadron, I don't object to telling you; and I hope you will give me your sympathy and support," replied Scott, putting on a most lugubrious face. "Indeed! I don't know that I quite comprehend you. I notice that all the students carefully avoid me this afternoon. If I approach any two or more of them engaged In conversation, they stop talking, or separate, and look very mysterious. I had come to the conclusion that I was to be the subject of some practical joke." "O, no. It is no joke, I assure you. It is a conspiracy, find I am to be the first victim. Beckwith, the first master, was even impudent enough to invite me to take a part in the amputation of my own nose! Did you ever hear anything so absurd?" "Perhaps I should be better able to judge if I were informed in regard to the nature of the conspiracy," suggested Cantwell, as he readjusted his eye-glasses. "I shall be happy to inform you. They intend to apply to the principal to have the tenure of office in the ship changed," replied Scott, in a very impressive manner, as though he were revealing a startling fact. "The tenure of office!" repeated Cantwell, with a puzzled look. "Yes. Beckwith was kind enough to explain to me what it meant. I dare say you know, without any explanation, Mr. Cantwell." "Of course I know the meaning of the phrase, but I don't understand its application to the affairs of the squadron." "Then you will excuse me for telling you." And Scott explained in full the nature of the proposed changes. "This is a plan, you will perceive, to cut me off." "Indeed!" "I have been a good boy, and learned my lessons this month; and, under the present regulation, I should be the captain of the ship next month. I think that is clear enough." Cantwell arranged his glasses again, and looked earnestly into the face of the joker; but he was as serious as though he had been at a funeral. "I was not aware that you stood so high on the record," added the fourth master, more puzzled than before. "Of course you are aware that you stand very high yourself," said Scott. "I know that I have not had a single imperfect lesson, or been marked down on any exercise." "Just so. Then the highest office lies between you and me," replied Scott, rubbing his chin. "The conspiracy is against us. If you should get in ahead of me, I never have any hard feelings. I am willing to abide by the regulations, and take [25] [26] [27] whatever place belongs to me, even if it should be that of captain or first lieutenant. I never complain of my lot when there is fair play." "And so the students are trying to have the highest officers chosen by ballot," mused Cantwell. "That's so; and it's a plot against you and me—a conspiracy against our rights; and we must oppose it with all our might." "It seems to me a very strange movement, just before the first of the month." "You are right; and we must go to work. The conspirators have had it all their own way so far. We can make it lively for them.—Well, Laybold, what is it?" said Scott, as the student addressed approached them. "I am sent to notify you both of a meeting of all the students of the squadron, at that flat rock on the top of the island," said the messenger. "The fellows are going to appoint a committee to wait on the principal, and ask for a change in the manner of giving out the offices." "We shall be there to vindicate our rights, and protest against this conspiracy. How do you stand, Laybold?" "I don't care much about it, any way," replied the messenger, glancing at Cantwell. "Then go against the change. This thing is got up to keep me from being captain next month." "You!" shouted Laybold. "You won't even be captain of a top! You won't come within fifty of the cabin." "So you say. But the highest office lies between Cantwell and me." "That may be; but it's a long way from your side of the house," replied Laybold, as the party moved towards the highest part of the island. Cantwell was vexed and troubled, and he could not decide what course to pursue. CHAPTER II. AN EXCITED MEETING OF OFFICERS AND SEAMEN. Scott was one of the most popular students in the squadron. And it is a lamentable fact, that mere "jokers" obtain a power and influence in society which is denied to persons of infinitely greater dignity and higher character. As Laybold declared, Scott had no personal interest in the question under agitation, for, though he was a good seaman, his scholarship was not above mediocrity. He lacked industry and application; and it was not probable that he would ever win even the lowest rank on the quarter-deck. But he had initiated what he regarded as a stupendous joke, and he was determined to carry it through. While the students were gathering at the flat rock, he electioneered against the De Forrest plan, as it soon came to be called. He declared over and over again, to the intense amusement of the seamen, that the plan was a conspiracy against his individual rights, and was intended to prevent him from being captain the next month. Before the meeting at the rock was called to order he had rallied quite a respectable party under his banner. Every officer and every seaman of the fleet was present at the meeting. The captain and the other officers sitting with the principal had been summoned to the gathering; and those who were most interested in the success of the effort were confident that the measure would be adopted with little if any opposition. The meeting was called to order by Lieutenant Ryder, the oldest officer of the squadron. "The first business of this meeting is the choice of a chairman," said Ryder, taking position on the flat rock, around which the students had collected. "Please to nominate." As in assemblages of older people, the arrangements had been "cut and dried" beforehand, and Beckwith had been appointed by the "ring" to nominate De Forrest as chairman; but Scott, more intent upon carrying out his joke than anything else, had stationed himself close to the rock, and disturbed the arrangements of the ring. "Cantwell!" shouted he, at the top of his lungs, before Beckwith, who certainly was not a dexterous representative of the ring, could open his mouth. "Cantwell!" repeated Laybold. "Cantwell!" cried a dozen others, almost choking with laughter. "I nominate Lieutenant De Forrest as chairman of this meeting," said the tardy Beckwith. "Lieutenant De Forrest is nominated," continued the chairman, anxious to only carry out the programme which had been arranged by the officers. "Mr. Chairman, I respectfully suggest that you are a little deaf in one eye. Mr. Cantwell was nominated first." "Cantwell! Cantwell!" shouted the supporters of Scott. Ryder was perplexed. Common fairness required him to put the question first upon the name of Cantwell; but he hesitated to do so. It seemed absurd to make the student whom they desired to throw out of the line of promotion the chairman of a meeting called for that purpose. While he was in doubt, the opposition shouted, indulging in hideous yells, cat-calls, and other demonstrations. It was fun to them. [28] [29] [30] [31] "Lieutenant De Forrest has been nominated for chairman," repeated Ryder, when there was a lull in the confusion. "Mr. Chairman, we go in for a fair thing," said Scott, in a loud but good-natured tone. "Mr. Cantwell was nominated first." "Mr. Chairman, I don't know of any rule which requires the presiding officer to put any name first," interposed Beckwith. "If the meeting is not satisfied with the one named by the chairman, it can be voted down." "But it looks more like a fair thing if the chairman puts the first name mentioned," replied Scott. "If the meeting don't like it, it can be voted down. If this thing is all cut and dried, I don't want anything to do with it; and I invite all the fellows that are not in the ring to step out and hold another meeting, where we can have fair play." "Another meeting!" shouted at least twenty seamen, who, with many others, seemed to regard the affair as a capital joke because it was under the leadership of Scott, rather than because they could see the point of it. "No, no!" responded the officers. "Put Cantwell's name, Ryder." "Mr. Cantwell is nominated," said the chairman; and the jokers were delighted when they found they had carried their point; but Ryder paused, and looked uneasily at the members of the ring. "Vote for him," said Norwood. "Make him chairman, and that will take the wind out of his sails. In the chair he can't oppose the plan, and we can tell the principal, when we go to him, that Cantwell presided over the meeting." "Question!" shouted the officers. "If it is your pleasure that Mr. Cantwell serve you as chairman of this meeting, you will manifest it by saying,'Ay.'" "Ay!" yelled nearly the whole crowd. "Those opposed, 'No,'" continued the chairman. "No!" replied a few, who did not understand the tactics of the ring. "It is a vote," said Ryder, "and Mr. Cantwell is elected chairman of this meeting." "I move you that a committee of two, consisting of Lieutenant De Forrest and Mr. Beckwith, be appointed to conduct him to the chair," shouted Scott. "You hear the motion of Mr. Scott; those in favor will say, 'Ay;' those opposed, 'No.' It is a vote," said the temporary chairman, disgusted with the proceedings. De Forrest and Beckwith conducted the obnoxious fourth master to the chair, which was the flat rock. As Cantwell mounted the natural rostrum, the jokers applauded lustily, and the ring felt that the proceedings were already turned into a farce. Of course Cantwell was more astonished than any one else to find his merits so highly appreciated. "Gentlemen, I thank you most heartily for the honor, unsought and unexpected on my part, which you have conferred upon me," said he, removing his cap. "I shall endeavor to preside impartially over the deliberations of this meeting. The chair awaits any motion." "Mr. Chairman," said De Forrest, who, after his defeat, had been delegated by the officers to present the business to the meeting. "Lieutenant De Forrest," replied Cantwell. The originator of the plan for changing the "tenure of office" made quite a lengthy speech, in which he set forth the advantages to be derived from the adoption of the new method of filling the offices of the highest grade. Of course he carefully abstained from any allusion to the real objection to the present system, and would have done so even if Cantwell had not been chosen chairman. His statement of the plan was certainly a very clear one, and the subject was fully understood by every student. "And now, Mr. Chairman, having fully explained the plan, which has been approved by a large number of the officers and seamen of the squadron," continued De Forrest, "I move that a committee of three be raised, to wait on the principal, and request him to make this change in the manner of filling the office of commodore of the squadron, and of captain, first, second, third, and fourth lieutenant of each vessel." "Mr. Chairman," said Beckwith, who had been selected to second the motion, "I rise—" "No, you don't," interposed Scott; "you haven't got up yet." "I rise—" "You were up before," persisted Scott; and a round of applause followed the interruption. "Mr. Chairman, I second the motion," said Beckwith, who, however, was unable to make the little speech he had arranged in his mind favoring the proposed change, for the laugh and the applause which followed Scott's sally had sadly disconcerted him. The chairman stated the motion, and the question upon its adoption was fairly before the meeting. Several of the officers spoke in favor of it, and even the commodore, the captain, and the first lieutenant gave it the weight of their powerful influence. Two of the "short jackets" also briefly addressed the meeting in favor of the plan; and thus far the agitators had it all their own way. [32] [33] [34] "Question!" called some of the ring. "Mr. Chairman!" shouted Scott, in a tone loud enough to be heard at the farther side of the island, where the adults of the squadron were enjoying the quiet beauty of the scene. "Mr. Scott," replied the chairman, recognizing and bowing to the joker. "Question! question!" shouted some of the officers, who were inclined to retaliate upon the joker by using his own tactics. "Mr. Scott has the floor," interposed the chairman. "Thank you, Mr. Chairman; but I'm not to be floored so easily. Every fellow that knows me knows that I go in for fair play." "That's so," cried the crowd of his supporters, with a round of applause. "And what I give to others I ask for myself," continued Scott. "I'm a modest fellow." (Tumultuous applause.) "I'm a modest fellow, Mr. Chairman, and it gores my soul to feel compelled to speak of my own merit; but this whole thing is a conspiracy against my rights." ("Hear, hear.") "I have belonged to the ship about a year; I haven't the purser's books in my trousers' pocket, and can't say to a day how long, but about a year. I have faithfully discharged every duty, and even done a great many things that were not required of me. I have eaten my grub with untiring fidelity, except when I was seasick at the beginning." (Applause.) "I have slept my eight hours out of the twenty-four with exemplary diligence and punctuality; and even done more than this, when the emergency seemed to require it, without grumbling." (Applause.) "I have kept my watch below without flinching." (Applause.) "I have worn my pea-jacket in cold and heavy weather without deeming it a hardship." (Applause.) "I have never objected to going on shore to see a city, or to take a tramp in the country, or to go 'on a time' of any sort." (Applause.) "Indeed, I have always been willing to make myself as comfortable as the circumstances would permit. And I have tried to use every fellow about right, the officers as well as the seamen. I have helped the fellows spend their money, when they needed my assistance" (applause), "for I don't like to be selfish about these things. When a fellow had any cake, fruit, or other good thing, I have taken hold like a man, and helped him eat it." ("That's so," shouted several.) "I have always been willing to let any fellow get my lessons for me, or do my share in holy-stoning the deck. When any petty officer, having a soft thing in the way of duty, such as coxswain of a boat, on a long pull, was sick, I have always been willing to take his place, and not charge him anything, either." (Applause.) "It's my nature to be unselfish; and I would do as much for the captain, or any other officer, as for a seaman." "Mr. Chairman, I rise to a point of order," interposed Beckwith. "Will the gentleman state his point?" "That the gentleman is not speaking to the question," snapped the first master, who was determined, if possible, to get even with Scott. "The speaker stated in the beginning that the proposed measure, and the action of this meeting in connection therewith, were a conspiracy against his rights; and the chair decides that he is in order," said the chairman, with dignity. "But, sir, must we listen to his biography?" demanded Beckwith. "Mr. Chairman, it is as painful for me to rehearse my own virtues before this large audience as it is for him to hear me; and the sacrifice which I make in doing so ought to be appreciated by the gentleman on the other side." (Applause.) "I appeal from the decision of the chair," said Beckwith. "First Master Beckwith appeals from the decision of the chair," continued Cantwell, who proceeded to state the point at issue, and, taking advantage of the privilege of his position, gave his reasons at length for ruling that Scott was in order. Most of the seamen of the ship and of the consorts enjoyed the fun, and wished Scott to go on. When the question of order was put, a large majority sustained the decision of the chair. Cantwell began to feel that he had a host of friends, and that the plot of the officers would be defeated. "Mr. Scott has the floor, and may proceed with his remarks," said he, when the vote was declared. "I trust I have shown conclusively that I am a good fellow," continued Scott. (Hearty applause.) "Now, to apply what I had said when I was so ungenerously interrupted, if I am a good fellow, I deserve to be the captain, or at least one of the lieutenants, of the ship" (rapturous applause), "provided I get a greater number of merit marks than any other fellow; of course I don't expect to wink the marks out of sight. Not long since I made a little excursion through Sweden with some friends of mine, without exactly running away. The fact was, we couldn't find the ship, though we searched diligently for her." (Applause, and cries of "Finkel.") "I hear 'Finkel.' Finkel was there, and had a finger in the pie. Now, no one can tell how many merits I got for that excursion, and for my struggles to find the ship; nor how many I got for the glass of finkel I drank, which, I grant, deranged my ideas. Then I was caught asleep on the anchor watch, and neither you nor I know how many merit marks I had for that. We are not permitted to examine the record books of the instructors, and therefore we cannot know how high we are marked for any recitation or exercise; but, Mr. Chairman, I got high this month" (violent applause), "and therefore I ought to have a high office. At any rate, Mr. Chairman, the highest office lies between you and me; and I think all present, who have considered the matter, will agree that it belongs to one of us" ("Hear, hear"), "and my modesty does not permit me to indicate which one. And now, Mr. Chairman, within three days of the end of the month, when the prize of a noble ambition is almost within my grasp, [35] [36] [37] [38] comes this cruel conspiracy to rob me of reward!" Scott was trying to imitate Forrest, or some other great tragic actor whom he had seen, in the last clause of his speech, and the students were convulsed with laughter at his deep tones and wild gestures. He continued a few moments longer in the same strain, being frequently interrupted by applause and other demonstrations. "And now, Mr. Chairman, I have done. If my shipmates will thus sting me to death when I am almost at the pinnacle of a noble ambition, I can only yield, as the noble Caesar did when he declared that Brutus ate two slapjacks for his breakfast. I shall fall, not by my own fault, but, like Caesar, by the madness of ambitious office-seekers. But I shall fall free from the taint of dishonor—scot-free." The orator wiped his brow with his coat sleeve, having left his handkerchief in the pocket of his pea-jacket, while the applause of the seamen rang through the island groves and over the silent sea. De Forrest was angry when he saw that the proceedings of the meeting were turned into a farce, and he made haste to reply to Scott's effective speech. The only point he made was, that the last speaker had no expectation of obtaining the lowest cabin office, or even of being the coxswain of the fourth cutter, and therefore his argument was simply ridiculous. "I should like to ask the third lieutenant if I did not say that the highest office lay between the chairman of the meeting and myself," demanded Scott. "Yes, yes," shouted a score. "He did; but he spoke of a conspiracy against his own rights," replied De Forrest. "What is the right of one student, Mr. Chairman, is the right of every one," said Scott—a sentiment which was warmly applauded. "Question!" shouted the jokers. The ring, trusting that the impression produced before the meeting by personal appeal had not been destroyed by the orator of the opposition, permitted the vote to be taken on the main question; and, indeed, Scott's party would not permit anything else to be done. The chairman stated the motion again, which was the appointment of a committee of three to request the principal to adopt the plan of De Forrest. "Those in favor of the motion will manifest it by saying, 'Ay,'" said Cantwell. "Ay!" replied the affirmative members of the meeting. "Those opposed, 'No.'" "No!" yelled the jokers, with all the power of their lungs. It was impossible to determine which side had the majority; but as the "noes" made the most noise, the chairman decided that it was not a vote. "I doubt the vote," shouted De Forrest, much excited. "The vote is doubted," said the chairman. "Those in favor of the motion will muster on the right of the chair; those opposed, on the left." Cantwell then appointed four tellers, two from each side. Two of them, one for, and one against, the measure, were then directed to count the number on each side. "Form a line, and march between the tellers to be counted," added the chairman. The business was done fairly, for each party was watching the other. The tellers on each side, after comparing their results, and finding that they agreed, were ready to report. "How many in the affirmative?" asked the chairman. "Eighty-eight," replied one of the tellers. "In the negative?" "Eighty-one," replied one of the tellers for that side. "Eighty-eight having voted in the affirmative, and eighty-one in the negative, the motion is carried," said the chairman. "The next business in order is the appointment of the committee. How shall they be chosen?" "By the chair," shouted Scott. "Second the motion," added a student. "It is moved and seconded that the committee be nominated by the chair." "Mr. Chairman, it does not seem to me to be exactly right that the committee should be nominated by the chairman, who is opposed to the plan," suggested Beckwith. "The chairman has not yet indicated whether he is in favor or opposed to the plan," said Cantwell, with a contemptuous curl of his lips and nose. "He intends...