Mr. James E. Fluxion is hereby appointed vice-principal of the academy squadron, and will be obeyed and respected accordingly.Mr. Fluxion is also hereby instructed temporarilyto discharge the duties of Professor of Greek, Latin, and Mathematics, on board of the Josephine.R. Lowington,Principal.
Mr. James E. Fluxion is hereby appointed vice-principal of the academy squadron, and will be obeyed and respected accordingly.
Mr. Fluxion is also hereby instructed temporarilyto discharge the duties of Professor of Greek, Latin, and Mathematics, on board of the Josephine.
R. Lowington,Principal.
The new vice-principal handed a note to Mr. Hamblin as he came upon deck, in which he was directed to repair, with his baggage, on board of the ship. The learned gentleman was not quite satisfied with this arrangement. It looked a little ominous.
"Have you no order for Captain Kendall, Mr. Fluxion?" he asked, as the vice-principal waited for him to read his letter.
"I have given him an order from the principal."
"Is he not directed to go on board of the ship?"
"He is not."
"I have preferred charges against him, and I was led to believe that he would be suspended," added Mr. Hamblin, who was not quite sure that he was not to be suspended himself.
"No order to that effect was sent by me," replied Mr. Fluxion. "You will excuse me, but the vessel is about to get under weigh."
"I am not satisfied with these proceedings. I complained to Mr. Lowington that it was impossible for me to instruct my classes while they were under the influence of Captain Kendall. No notice appears to have been taken of my charges."
"I think some notice has been taken of them. You are directed to report to the principal, with your baggage, on board of the ship."
"Am I to be punished instead of that obstinate and impudent pupil?" demanded the professor.
"I have nothing to say about it, Mr. Hamblin," added Mr. Fluxion, sharply. "If you are not going to the ship, we will weigh anchor and proceed on our voyage."
The professor went down into his state-room, and hastily packed his trunk, which was brought up and put in the boat by one of the stewards. The students watched these movements with the deepest interest, and they could hardly conceal their satisfaction when it was clear that the obnoxious instructor was going to leave the Josephine, "bag and baggage." There was a great deal of punching each other in the ribs, a great deal of half-suppressed chuckling, and a very decided inclination to give three cheers. A few of the more prudent ones checked any noisy demonstration; but the moment that Mr. Hamblin went over the side was a very joyous one.
The Josephine tripped her anchor, and, hugged by the steam-tug, stood down the river on her way to Rotterdam. Mr. Fluxion went below, and installed himself in the state-room vacated by Professor Hamblin. Mr. Stoute gave the vice-principal a hearty welcome; and it was soon evident that they were men who could cordially agree. Paul was delighted with the change; for if there was any one in the squadron, besides the principal and the doctor, for whom he had a high regard and a thorough respect, it was Mr. Fluxion. He was a sailor from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. He had visited all the maritime ports of Europe, spoke half a dozen modern languages with facility, and was popular with the boys. He was a sharp disciplinarian, and the students found itdifficult to outwit him. He knew all the tricks of sailors, and especially of man-of-war's men. He was the right hand man of Mr. Lowington, and the new arrangement, whereby the professor had been created vice-principal, and sent on board the consort, was to prevent the recurrence of such an incident as that which had imperilled her in the German Ocean during the squall.
Though Paul felt that his own powers were in some degree abridged by the presence of the new officer, whose authority, unlike that of the instructors before, extended to the vessel, and was equal to that of Mr. Lowington, he was now satisfied. A competent person was present, with whom he could share the responsibility of the navigation of the vessel in case of an emergency. He was on the best of terms with Mr. Fluxion, and he was happier than he had been before since the Josephine sailed from Hull. Leaving him to the enjoyment of the new order of things, we will follow Mr. Hamblin on board of the ship.
The barge ran up alongside, and the professor's trunk was hoisted on board. As soon as the students saw the barge and the baggage, which indicated that the obnoxious old gentleman had been transferred to the Young America, a murmur of disapprobation went through the ship.
"I say, Wilton, we are to have that old humbug in the ship!" exclaimed Perth, the chief of the Red Cross Knights, who, however, had changed their name to the Knights of the Golden Fleece.
"That's so," replied Wilton, who had contrived to keep out of the brig nearly a week. "He has his plunder with him."
"We must do as the Josephines did," added Perth, in a whisper.
"What's that?"
"Get rid of him. This shall be the first job of the Knights of the Golden Fleece. McDougal, who is a capital fellow, told me all about how the fellows in the Josephine managed it."
"I heard they had been hazing him."
"That they did," laughed Perth. "There is fun in the thing. If the old fossil was a decent fellow, of course we wouldn't disturb him. Just as soon as he made a row on board, all the fellows took the captain's part. Morgan dropped him into the river, by drawing out the nail that held the boat-hook in the wood; Blount dropped a coil of signal halyards on his head; and McDougal ducked him with the hose-pipe; and the old fellow got a bogus letter from Antwerp, inviting him to visit some of those kings, or something of that sort."
"Who sent the letter?" asked Wilton, greatly interested, as he always was, in anything of this kind.
"Nobody knows; at least McDougal says so. When we were at Brussels, the old Greek went to see some big fellow there,—the king or some minister,—and the big bug wouldn't look at him. One of our fellows heard Stoute telling the doctor about it; and Fatty was so tickled that he shook just like a freshly-baked cup-custard. There goes the boatswain's whistle. We are off now," added Perth, as he sprang to his place at the capstan.
The anchor had before been hove short, and in a few moments the Young America, also in the warmembrace of a powerful steam-tug, moved down the river.
"All hands in the rigging!" shouted the first lieutenant, as the ship approached the Victoria and Albert.
The students ran up the shrouds like monkeys, and stationed themselves in the rigging.
"Three cheers for the Queen of England," called Goodwin; and they were given with becoming zeal.
A lady dressed in black, who was walking the promenade deck, near the dining saloon, bowed and waved her handkerchief. That lady was Queen Victoria. The Josephine at this moment came up on the other side, and delivered her round of cheers. Mr. Fluxion carried the intelligence on board that the queen had returned, and that the yacht would sail that evening; and all hands were on the lookout for her majesty. She bowed and waved her handkerchief to the Josephines, as she had to the students in the ship.
She was not very distinctly seen by the curious students in either vessel, and appeared like a stout "dumpy" little woman, in no respect different from any other lady. In spite of this fact, it was voted to be a big thing to have seen the Queen of England; and the king of the little realm of Belgium sank into insignificance, compared with her.
"She don't look like a queen," said Captain Haven to Mr. Mapps, who stood next to him.
"Did you expect to see her with her crown and coronation robes on, and with the sceptre in her hand?" laughed the professor.
"Not exactly; but I was not prepared to see a ladyso much like any well-dressed woman we meet in the street."
"Let me see," said Mr. Mapps, glancing at the shore, intent upon renewing his favorite topic, "Fort St. Laurent must have been here; and this is where Van Speyk went down, or rather went up."
"Who was Van Speyk?"
"He was the commander of a Dutch gunboat, in the revolution of 1830. His vessel wouldn't come about—what do you call it?"
"Missed stays, sir," replied Captain Haven.
"Missed stays, and got aground right under the guns of the fort. He was ordered to surrender, but refused to do so, though there was not the least chance for him to make a successful resistance. He was determined that the rebels should not have his vessel, and, rushing down into the powder-magazine, he said his prayers, and coolly laid his lighted cigar on an open barrel of powder. An explosion followed which shook the whole city. Twenty-eight, out of thirty-one on board, including the heroic captain, were killed—blown up into the air. A monument to his memory was erected by the side of that of De Ruiter, and the government pledged itself that a vessel in the Dutch navy should always bear the name of Van Speyk."
"He was a good fellow," replied the captain, warmly.
"I say, Perth, I've been a good boy for more than a week, and I begin to be ashamed of myself for my want of activity," said Wilton, who had seated himself on the bowsprit-cap, while his companion was reclining on the flying jib. "I shall spoil if there is not something going on soon."
"We'll go on that cruise in the Josephine just as soon as we can bring things round right," added Perth.
"It's no use to think of that while we are moored fifty or a hundred miles from the sea," continued Wilton.
"Of course not. Rotterdam is away up the river, with a bar at its mouth having only seven feet of water on it at low tide. You must go over that, or by the canal, which runs through an island. Do you know where we go next?"
"I heard some of the fellows say we were going to the southward soon."
"If that's so I should suppose we shall go into Dieppe or Havre," said Perth.
"I heard Havre mentioned. How will that suit?"
"First rate!" exclaimed the embryo captain of theproposed prize, for the Knights depended upon Perth for the navigation of the Josephine, when their long-cherished plan should be put in execution.
"I suppose we shall not stay in Holland more than a week."
"No, I hope not. Lowington is afraid we shall all get sick if we stay here long."
"Havre is just the place for us. It has an open harbor, and we can go to sea from there without any difficulty. Besides, there's another thing that will favor us."
"What's that?" asked Wilton.
"All the fellows will go to Paris when the ship is there, and we can have a first-rate chance to operate while they are gone."
"I don't know about that. Our fellows will all want to go to Paris with the rest. I want to go there myself," suggested Wilton.
"We may as well give it up, then," added Perth.
"We must see Paris, anyhow."
"I'll tell you what we can do. We can run round through the Straits of Gibraltar, and up the Mediterranean to Marseilles. From there we can all go to Paris.".
"That will be a long cruise," said Wilton.
"No matter for that. The longer the better."
"How far is it?"
"Not less than two thousand miles. We could go in ten or fifteen days," added Perth, warming up as he anticipated the pleasure of the runaway cruise. "After we get into the Mediterranean, we can run along the coast of Spain, go into port as often as we like, and have a first-rate time generally."
"But don't you suppose Lowington will follow us?"
"No matter if he does. We can beat the Young America on a wind from Monday morning till Saturday night. If we find the ship is overhauling us, all we have to do is to hug the wind, and we can give her the slip."
"We haven't money enough to pay the expenses of such a trip," said Wilton.
"There's plenty of money in the Josephine. But we don't need much. The vessel has a year's provisions in her hold."
"Salt junk and hard tack," suggested Wilton, who was not partial to this diet.
"That will do very well while we are at sea; and when we get to Spain we can buy things cheap. Besides, our fellows are going to raise some money on their own account," said Perth, in a whisper.
"How's that?" asked the other, curiously.
"Every one of the Knights wrote home to have their folks send them some money at Paris,—or every one but you and Munroe; and the game was played out with you and him, for you had some sent to you in London."
"Yes; and Lowington got it," replied Wilton in disgust.
"We fixed it all right. We shall find loose change enough on board of the Josephine to keep us happy till we get to Paris, by the way of Marseilles, and then we shall be rotten with stamps."
"But don't you expect to be caught some time or other?" inquired Wilton, whose experience on a former occasion seemed to point in this direction.
"No matter if we are. We must be ready for that; but we will be jolly while we have things our own way."
"It's no use to talk about it yet," added Wilton, with a yawn, for the wild scheme seemed so far off to him that he could not enter into the spirit of it yet.
"It won't be more than a week or ten days before we shall be ready to make a strike. You know we must all cut up so as to be left on board."
"Yes, and some one will be left on board with us, just as it happened at Cowes."
"It won't be Fluxion, anyhow; for he has been transferred to the Josephine, and we can come it over any other of the professors. However, we must feel our way, and the first thing we have to do is to get left on board."
"Humph! That's easy enough," said Wilton, who had never found any difficulty in being left behind, or in being condemned to the brig.
"We must make a sure thing of it next time; but it won't do to run away with a boat again. Hush up! There comes that old stick-in-the-mud from the Josephine," added Perth, lowering his voice to a whisper.
The gentleman thus discourteously alluded to was Mr. Hamblin,who had climbed upon the topgallant forecastle for the purpose of obtaining a view of the region through which the vessel was passing. As the two boys were far out on the bowsprit, over the water, he did not venture to approach any nearer to them; yet the excessive prudence which the Knights practised required them to keep silence whenever there was a possibility that a word might be overheard by the uninitiated.
"I wish he would come up here," whispered Wilton, from the corner of his mouth.
"Why?"
"I would contrive some way to spill him into the drink," chuckled the ever-willing conspirator.
Mr. Hamblin was then cool and self-possessed, and he did not venture out upon the treacherous spar, and the entangling rigging, so that the wretch on the cap had no opportunity to give him a second bath in the dirty Scheldt. The learned gentleman was looking for the site of the Duke of Parma's Bridge, but he couldn't find it, and presently retired. He was not much interested in the Spanish operations in Flanders, though he felt it his duty to see a spot so noted in history—it was so effective, before a class of students, to be able to say he had seen the place alluded to in the text-book. He was, in fact, more concerned to know what Mr. Lowington's decision was, and he was waiting impatiently for an interview with him.
"The old hunks is too mean for the Josephines, and he has been quartered upon us!" exclaimed Wilton, as the professor descended to the main deck. "The fellows in the consort say he is as grouty as a mud turtle, and as crabbed as an owl at noonday. He snubs every one that makes a blunder, and rips at the class half the time."
"They say Lowington don't like him much better than the fellows do," added Perth.
It would be difficult to explain how any of the students had reached this conclusion; but it is certain that boys understand their guardians and instructors much better than the latter generally suppose.
"Perth, I think we might as well have our liberty stopped for serving out Old Crabs, as for anything else," suggested Wilton.
"I'm willing; the Knights will do that job handsomely, you may bet your life."
"But we musn't get caught too soon."
"We work in the dark, and we can do the thing as well as the Josephines did."
"Let's study up something at once, and put him through a course of sprouts. I don't believe in tolerating a professor who was too mean for the Josephine," replied Wilton, shaking his head, as though a personal indignity had been put upon him.
"All right; we will be ready as soon as he is. What's the row on deck?" continued Perth, rising from his seat, as a group of students gathered in the rigging, and on such elevations as would enable them to see over the bulwarks.
"Only one of Mapps's long yarns," answered Wilton.
"I'm going down to see what it is."
Perth went down, but Wilton had not the slightest interest in anything Mr. Mapps had to say; and he stretched himself on the jib, which had been cast loose ready to hoist, in case it should be required.
"This is the place where the Duke of Parma built his great bridge over the Scheldt," said the professor of history, as the students gathered around him.
"What did he build the bridge for?" asked one of them.
"In order to close the navigation of the river, and thus prevent the people of Antwerp from obtainingprovisions, which came to them from Holland. When the Prince of Orange was assassinated, the Duke of Parma was making his preparations to subdue the country. By the death of the prince Holland was left without an effective leader, while in the duke Spain had one of the most accomplished and energetic generals of his age. Parma saw that Antwerp was the key to the situation, and he directed his whole attention to its capture.
"Before this time the Prince of Orange had realized that the loss of Antwerp would be the loss of the whole of the region which is now called Belgium; and when it was clear in what direction his skilful antagonist proposed to operate, he had advised the cutting of the dike on your right, which would lay the country under water, and open a channel of communication with Holland and Zealand by water. Unfortunately, his advice was disregarded till the duke had secured the dikes—a neglect which caused the loss of Antwerp, and with it the whole of Flanders.
"Though Parma had erected forts all along the banks of the river, the hardy Dutchmen ran the gantlet of them, and Antwerp was well supplied with food, the price being four times as much as in Holland. The people of the city, and even their leaders, ridiculed the idea of constructing the bridge, and took no steps to prevent it. The death of Orange caused a panic throughout the Netherlands, of which the shrewd Parma took advantage, and urged on his preparations. Though crippled in a measure by the neglect of his sovereign to supply himwith men and money, the bridge was completed in the face of tremendous obstacles. It was twenty-four hundred feet long, and composed of thirty-two boats, or vessels, bound together by hawsers, cables, and beams. On each side was a wall of timbers, and on the structure guns were planted for its defence. A fort was erected at each end, heavily armed and manned.
"When the bridge was finished, the Antwerpers, who had laughed to scorn the idea of such a structure, found that their supplies were cut off. They made two attempts to break through the bridge, but failed in both, though in one of them they made a breach by exploding a fire-ship, and destroyed nearly a thousand Spanish soldiers, and Parma himself was knocked senseless. The attempt was not followed up with sufficient energy, and the Spaniard had time to repair the work. Antwerp, deprived of provisions by the skill and determination of the duke, was starved out and compelled to surrender. The country continued under the Spanish yoke, while the United Provinces maintained their independence."
The attentive audience which had gathered around the professor separated when he had finished the story. Some of them went aloft, to look over the dikes, and with their eyes followed the long lines of ditches and canals which extended into the interior.
In the mean time, Mr. Hamblin walked the deck very uneasily, waiting for an opportunity to discuss his position with the principal. The studies of the classes were to be resumed on the following day, and he was anxious to know what disposition was to bemade of him. The ship was already provided with an excellent instructor in Greek and Latin; and only in the department of mathematics was there a vacancy, made by the transfer of Mr. Fluxion. It would be impossible for Mr. Hamblin to teach anything but Greek and Latin, though he had had some experience in the other branches.
Mr. Lowington seemed to be provokingly indifferent on the subject, and the professor was at last compelled to ask an interview, which, however, his dignity compelled him to defer till the ship was approaching Flushing, when the steamer was to leave her. The principal understood the character of the learned gentleman very well, and knew that any manifestation of anxiety on his own part would so inflate the vanity of the professor that he could do nothing with him; but he granted the interview when it was demanded.
"Mr. Lowington, I am rather desirous of knowing what is to be done," said thesavant, when they were alone in the main cabin. "I find that Mr. Fluxion has been transferred to the place I filled on the Josephine. As you are aware, I was employed to teach Latin and Greek."
"I am aware of it," replied the principal, still appearing to be singularly indifferent in such a momentous crisis, as it seemed to Mr. Hamblin.
"I presume Mr. Fluxion is competent to teach the classics."
"Entirely competent. He was assigned, in the beginning, to the department of navigation, on account of his knowledge of practical seamanship. I don't know that he has any superior as a teacher of the classics."
Mr. Hamblin did not like this answer. The principal had no business to think that any one washisequal in the department of Greek and Latin, especially the former. Mr. Fluxion had never written a Greek Grammar, compiled a Greek Reader, and edited the Anabasis. The remark of the principal was very injudicious.
"Having been displaced from my position in the consort, I am rather desirous of knowing what is to be done with me," added the professor, choking down his disgust.
"I hope we shall be able to make an arrangement that will be satisfactory to you, at least for the present," replied the principal. "I have had some consultation with the instructors; and Mr. Paradyme has obligingly consented to take the department of mathematics in the ship for a time, and the Greek and Latin will be assigned to you."
"This arrangement is entirely satisfactory to me, Mr. Lowington," answered the professor, who was really delighted to obtain what was regarded as the senior professorship in the squadron; and it seemed quite fitting that the place should be given to him.
"This is only a temporary arrangement," added the principal, desirous to prevent any misunderstanding in the future.
This was not entirely satisfactory to Mr. Hamblin, who thought a thing so fitly done ought to be permanent.
"It is not pleasant for me to feel unsettled, and to be liable to a change at any time," said the professor. "I think I should prefer my place in the Josephine."
"Since you and the captain of the Josephine cannot agree, it does not appear to be practicable for you to remain there."
"Do you expect me to submit when insulted by a pupil, Mr. Lowington?" asked Mr. Hamblin, solemnly. "Will you allow a student to insult me?"
"I will neither allow a student to insult you, nor you to insult a student," replied the principal, with the most refreshing frankness.
"You will not allowmeto insult a pupil!" exclaimed Mr. Hamblin.
"Certainly not."
"Do you think me capable of doing such a thing?"
"I am sorry to say you have proved that you are. You called one of them a puppy."
"But not until—"
"Excuse me, Mr. Hamblin. I do not purpose to discuss this matter again."
"May I ask if you sustain Mr. Kendall in his conduct towards me?"
"I do—fully."
"I am astonished, sir!"
"So am I—astonished that a gentleman of your learning and ability should so demean himself as to apply offensive epithets to his pupils. In the first place, you had no right to interfere with the discipline of the vessel; and when Captain Kendall told you that he commanded the Josephine, he said no more than the truth, and no more than the circumstances required him to say. In the second place, after you called him a puppy, and repeated the epithet, on the quarter-deck, I could not have blamed him if he hadput you in irons. I approve his conduct fully. As you insulted him before his officers and crew, it was necessary that he should vindicate himself before them."
"I am afraid this vessel is no place for me," said the professor, with extreme disgust.
"I am afraid not, if you cannot observe the rules of the ship."
"I think I have observed the rules, sir. Mr. Kendall used every means in his power to annoy me; and still you sustain him in it. He knows that you are partial to him."
"I am not aware that Captain Kendall used any means to annoy you."
"I think you do not know that boy as well as I do. A rope was thrown down upon my head: the offence was suffered to pass unnoticed by Mr. Kendall. I was wilfully or carelessly thrown into the river; the captain did not consult me, but made his inquiries in private, and of course the culprits escaped."
"You were thrown into the river by your own carelessness, Mr. Hamblin. I saw the whole of it."
"So Mr. Kendall told me, in the most offensive tones. I do not complain of these things; I only mention them for the sequel. A boy drenched me with water; he begged my pardon on his knees, and I forgave him; but this offence the captain punishes in the most severe manner. Why? Apparently because I—the only sufferer—had forgiven the offender."
"It was necessary for the captain to put a stop to such pranks."
"But he did not use good judgment. McDougal explained the matter, and was exceedingly sorry."
"But he drenched you on purpose."
"Impossible, sir!"
The principal called one of the stewards, and sent for McDougal, who presently appeared. He had already confessed that the drenching was not an accident, and he repeated his statement, to the utter astonishment of the discomfited pedagogue. During the excursion on shore, some of the Josephines had told him that the trouble between Paul and the professor had been on his account; and he had made the confession in order to justify the captain, at whatever cost to himself. The spirited conduct of the young commander had filled the boys with admiration, and they were determined that he should not suffer, whoever else did.
"You did it on purpose—did you?" repeated thesavant. "May I ask why you did it?"
"The fellows didn't like you, and were bound to get you out of the Josephine," replied McDougal, candidly.
"The fellows!" exclaimed Mr. Hamblin. "Were there others concerned in this iniquitous transaction?"
"More than a dozen of them."
"Did you write the letter to me which purported to come from the Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs?"
"No, sir."
"Who did?"
"I don't know, sir."
"You don't know! Don't lie to me," said the professor, sternly.
"I do not."
"I know," added the learned gentleman, turning to the principal.
"McDougal, you say that a dozen boys were concerned in your proceedings. Who were they?"
"I would rather not tell, sir. I am willing to own up to all I did myself."
"You hear that, Mr. Lowington?" exclaimed the professor, with horror.
"Of course I hear it, Mr. Hamblin," replied the principal, impatiently. "You may leave, McDougal."
"Leave, sir!" ejaculated Mr. Hamblin.
"Go, McDougal;" and he went. "You said you knew who wrote the fictitious letter, sir."
"I do."
"Who was it?"
"Mr. Lowington, if that boy you sent away had told the whole truth, he would have confessed that Mr. Kendall was at the bottom of all these infamous proceedings."
"Captain Kendall!"
"Yes, sir; especially the plan to throw me into the water. When I demanded a boat, I mentioned the gig. It was refused. Why? Because the crew of the first cutter had been instructed to tip me overboard! It is very strange that no one but myself has been able to understand the vicious intentions of the boys."
"The gig is the captain's boat. The regulations require the captain to give the professors the first cutter," explained Mr. Lowington.
"I was not aware of it at the time; but I am satisfied that the crew of the first cutter had been instructed to pitch me into the river."
"If they were, you were very obliging to assist them as you did," added the principal. "But go on. Do you suppose Captain Kendall instructed McDougal to drench you with water?"
"Very likely."
"And then inflicted the severest punishment upon him for doing it? It is absurd! That was the third and last offence. The captain put an end to these tricks by his well-timed energy, and I am sure he had no part or lot in them. Do you think he got some one to write the letter to you?"
"No, sir; I think he did it himself," replied the professor, more calmly, as he came to what he considered his stronghold.
"I am not willing to believe it."
"I am prepared to prove it, sir."
"If Kendall has been guilty of such conduct,—if it can be shown that he wrote the letter, or that he knew of its being written,—I will not only suspend him, but I will reduce him to a common sailor, and confine him in the brig," said the principal, with no little agitation.
This strong speech looked like the dawn of reason to Mr. Hamblin, and he hastened to produce his evidence. The letter and several exercises written by Paul were first placed on the cabin table, to enable Mr. Lowington to compare the penmanship.
"There is a strong similarity in them, I grant; but they are all written in the common school-boy hand of the United States," added the principal.
"There is a stronger resemblance than that. The capital A's are the same; the small r's are identical."
"But the small a's are different."
"Doubtless he disguised his hand to some extent."
"Is this all the proof you have?" asked Mr. Lowington, somewhat relieved.
"No, sir," replied the professor, triumphantly, as he exhibited the paper he had taken from Paul's state-room, which was different from any he had been able to find in either vessel. "The paper is identical, you perceive."
"I see that it is."
"And no other student has such paper."
"The ship has provided paper for the students, but none like this," said Mr. Lowington, with a sigh.
"I think you will consider the case proved," added Mr. Hamblin, exultingly.
"By no means. Enough has been shown to warrant an inquiry. I will make an investigation immediately."
This was all Mr. Hamblin could ask; and, confident that Captain Kendall would be convicted, he left the cabin, as the captain of the Belgian steamer came in to settle for the towage.
The squadron remained off Flushing long enough for Mr. Fluxion to visit the shore, and ascertain the condition of the "Wel tevreeden." The repairs were going on, but were not completed, and the cost of them could not yet be determined. The vice-principal, however, obtained such information in regard to the probable expense, as to enable him to make a final settlement. Captain Schimmelpennink came off to the Josephine with him on his return. It was certain that eleven hundred guilders would cover the whole expense of putting the galiot in perfect repair, and the balance of this sum was handed to the skipper.
If there ever was a grateful man in the world, that man was the captain of the "Wel tevreeden." In addition to the energetic speeches he made through the interpreter, he indulged in some very pretty and significant gesticulations, which the officers and crew could comprehend. The students were happy in the good deed they had done—quite as happy as the the skipper himself. In addition to the sum expended, there was five hundred and fifty-four guilders in the hands of the treasurer, which was to be used for some similar object when presented to them.
While Mr. Fluxion was absent at Flushing, Mr. Lowington had gone on board of the Josephine, and, taking Paul into his state-room, had exhibited the fictitious note to him, stating the charge made against him by Mr. Hamblin.
"I need not say, Captain Kendall, that this is a very serious charge," added the principal, solemnly.
"I think it is, sir," replied Paul, blushing deeply. "If you think I wrote that letter, sir, I hope you will do your duty."
"I certainly shall, though it break my heart."
"Whatever you do, sir, it will not alter my regard for you."
"I am already accused of partiality towards you, Captain Kendall," added Mr. Lowington. "I confess that I never had a pupil for whom I cherished so high an esteem and so warm a regard."
"Thank you, sir. You are now, as you always have been, very kind to me," replied Paul, hardly able to restrain the tears in which his emotions demanded expression.
"I must say that I deem this charge groundless and absurd; but I cannot explain it away. The writing in the note resembles yours in some respects; and the fact that the kind of paper on which the note is written is found in your possession alone has not been explained. Do you know anything about this note?"
"Nothing, sir; only that it came in the mail with the rest of the Josephine's letters."
"When did you get the paper which Mr. Hamblin found in your writing desk?"
"I bought it in Antwerp on Tuesday afternoon, when we went on shore," replied Paul, promptly.
"I shall be obliged to inquire further into this matter. You will have all hands called."
They left the state-room together, and the first lieutenant ordered the ship's company to be piped to quarters. Without any definite explanation, the principal directed all the students to bring their stock of stationery on deck, and they passed in review before him, exhibiting the quality of their paper. At the same time Mr. Stoute searched the steerage for any which might have been concealed. If any student had purchased paper in Antwerp, it was not of the kind on which the forged letter had been written.
"Young gentlemen," said Mr. Lowington, mounting his rostrum, "a practical joke is the stupidest thing in the world, when perpetrated at the expense of the feelings of others. Some one has put such a joke upon Mr. Hamblin, the very last person in the world to appreciate this species of humor. One of your number is charged with the act."
"The old lunatic has laid it to the captain," whispered Terrill, who thus interpreted the mysterious proceedings of the principal and Paul.
"The particular kind of paper on which the letter to Mr. Hamblin was written is found only in the possession of that one student," continued the principal, with an emotion he could not wholly conceal. "I desire, if any of you have any information in regard to the note, that you will communicate it at once."
Mr. Lowington paused, and the boys looked blankly at each other. Even to them, at that moment, a practical joke seemed to be the stupidest thing in the world. There was a tremendous sensation among them; but no one volunteered to give the desired information.
"Young gentlemen, although the evidence in my possession is not sufficient to condemn the student charged with the offence, it is enough to justify grave suspicions, and I shall be under the painful necessity of suspending him, and sending him on board of the ship for further examination."
Paul was not half so much disturbed by this announcement as he had been by the trying scene with Mr. Hamblin, a few days before. It is the guilt, and not the loss of honor, the disgrace, which is hard to bear when one is charged with misconduct or crime. He stood with folded arms, submissive to the authority of the principal, and satisfied that the truth would prevail in the end.
"Who is he?" asked one of the students in a suppressed tone, when the silence became painful.
"Captain Kendall," replied the principal; and this name produced a tremendous thrill in the hearts of the ship's company.
"No, sir! No, sir!" shouted some of the students.
"Silence, young gentlemen! I know how you feel," interposed Mr. Lowington. "Although it would seem to me impossible that Captain Kendall should have written this letter, Mr. Hamblin distinctly charges him with the act, and I am sorry to add that there is some evidence to prove the charge."
Mr. Lowington was more grieved than any other person on board, and it is more than probable that, in his great anxiety to avoid partiality, he ran into theopposite extreme, and exposed himself to the peril of doing injustice to his young friend.
"Captain Kendall, you will consider yourself under arrest, and report on board of the ship," added the principal, turning to Paul.
The young commander bowed submissively, and the boys wondered how he was able to take the matter so coolly.
"It's a shame!" exclaimed Terrill, in a low tone, to Pelham.
"Mr. Terrill," continued Mr. Lowington, "the command of the Josephine devolves upon you until further orders, and you will go to sea as soon as Mr. Fluxion returns."
The first lieutenant started when his name was called, and suspected that he was to be taken to task for the remark he had just made. It was fortunate for him, perhaps, that the principal did not hear his energetic words, or the command might have been given to the second lieutenant, for Terrill's impulsive nature would have led him into some intemperate speech, so deeply did he feel for the captain.
"I hope my command will be of very short duration, sir," said he, as the principal stepped down from the hatch.
"I hope so, Mr. Terrill," answered Mr. Lowington. "Captain Kendall, you will repair to the ship in the barge."
"I will be ready in a moment, sir," replied Paul, as he went below to obtain a few needed articles.
"Captain Kendall, I am downright sorry for this," said Terrill, following him into his state-room.
"Don't be at all disturbed about it," answered Paul, cheerfully. "I am glad Mr. Lowington has taken this course. I expect to be able to prove that I could not have written the letter, and I shall be restored as soon as we reach Rotterdam. It is a good deal better to be proved innocent than to be suspected of being guilty. Here is the key of the safe," he added, as he took it from his pocket and handed it to his successor.
"It's lucky for old Hamblin he isn't on board of the Josephine," said Terrill, with an ominous shake of the head. "I think the fellows would throw him overboard before the vessel gets to Rotterdam if he were."
"That isn't the right spirit, Terrill; and as a particular favor to me, I ask that you will not say a word about Mr. Hamblin. I have my own opinion in regard to him; and I suppose every fellow has; but the least said is the soonest mended. I hope you will not let the officers and crew indulge in any demonstrations of disapproval."
"Not let them! I can't help it. I believe if old Hamblin was on board, I would join with the rest of the fellows in making a spread eagle of him on the fore shrouds," answered the commanderpro tem.
"Don't think of such a thing. Two wrongs won't make a right," said Paul, anxiously. "You and I have been first-rate friends, Terrill, and for my sake do not encourage or tolerate any demonstrations."
"I will do the best I can, but I feel just like making the biggest row I was ever in since I was born."
"Keep cool; you are going to sea right off, andyou will have enough to do to look out for the vessel."
"I shall do as you tell me, if I can; but only because you wish it. I think the fellows ought to give a few hearty groans, so as to be sure no one mistakes their sentiments."
"Don't do it, Terrill," said Paul, as he led the way to the deck, with his bundle in his hand.
When they went on deck, Mr. Fluxion had just returned in the first cutter; and great was his astonishment, and that of the boat's crew, when informed of the exciting event which had just transpired. The interview with the Dutch skipper changed the current of thought on board for the moment; but as soon as he departed, nothing was talked of but the arrest of the captain.
Paul stepped into the barge with the principal, who was very sad and silent. As soon as they were on board of the Young America, and the barge hoisted up, orders were given to fill away again.
"What does that mean?" asked Perth, when the barge was hoisted up, as he ran up to Wilton.
"What?"
"Why, there is Captain Kendall on the quarter-deck of the ship, and the Josephine is getting under way without him."
"There's been a row somewhere; Kendall is one of the flunkies, but he's a good fellow for all that," added Wilton, who could not help giving Paul this tribute.
"I'll tell you what it is," said Howe,—who was one of the barge's crew, and had heard all the proceedings on board of the Josephine,—as he joined them, "Kendall has been suspended, broken, turned out of office for writing that letter to old Hamblin."
"Is that so?" demanded Perth.
"That's so; but all the fellows in the Josephine say he didn't do it."
"It would be a new idea for Kendall to do anything wrong—even to sneeze in prayer time."
The order to man the braces interrupted the conversation; but the news went through the ship even before she had begun to gather headway. The matter was thoroughly discussed, and it was perfectly understood that Mr. Hamblin had preferred the charge upon which Paul had been broken or suspended. The commander of the Josephine was almost as popular in the ship as he was in the consort; and the indignation against the professor of Greek was hardly less violent in the one than in the other.
"Captain Kendall, you will occupy the spare state-room in the after cabin, next to Flag-officer Gordon's," said Mr. Lowington to Paul, as they met after the ship was underway.
"Thank you, sir," replied the young commander, who had seated himself near the companion-way.
"As soon as supper is disposed of, I propose to examine into the charge. You shall have a fair trial."
"I have no doubt of that."
Mr. Lowington walked away, and Paul, who was much embarrassed by the continued expressions of sympathy extended to him by the officers of the ship, retired to his state-room to consider his line of defence.
Mr. Hamblin, satisfied before, was delighted now. Justice seemed to be extending her tardy hand in hisfavor. The rebel against his mighty will had been suspended, and was actually under arrest. Of course the principal had acknowledged the validity of the evidence he had presented. The motive for such an annoying practical joke was patent to all in the squadron, while the quality of the paper and the resemblance of the writing were enough to convict the offender.
The professor was enjoying his triumph, not vindictively, he persuaded himself, but in the sense that his own personal action and motives were on the eve of being justified. As the ship moved majestically down the river, he walked up and down, athwart ships, in a better mood to enjoy the scene which presented itself than ever before since he joined the squadron. He walked from rail to rail because Paul was seated on the quarter-deck, and he did not care to meet him. When the young commander went below, he walked fore and aft.
The deck was crowded with students waiting for the supper bell to ring; and many an ugly and dissatisfied look was bestowed upon him; but the learned gentleman, in his triumph, was too well pleased with himself to notice them. Mr. Hamblin involuntarily extended his walk, from time to time, until it was continued to the forecastle, where the crew were collected in large numbers. Hardly had he passed the foremast on his first round, than he was saluted by a universal groan, so deep and hearty that he stopped short and looked at the crowd. They were silent then.
"Young gentlemen," said thesavant, sternly, "if that was intended as an expression of—"
The remark of censure was brought to an abrupt termination by a very annoying incident. Mr. Hamblin had halted directly under the weather fore yard-arm, braced up so as to take the wind on the beam. Before he had reached this point of his remark, a new fellow by the name of Little, remarkable for his agility, dropped from the yard directly upon the top of the learned gentleman's hat, in fact, sitting down upon his "tile" as fairly and squarely as though the deed had been done on purpose, bringing with him the slack of the weather clew-garnet.
The professor was prostrated to the deck by the weight of the little seaman,—for Little's name precisely described his stature,—while the unfortunate boy was thrown forward flat upon his face.
"O, I'm killed, I'm killed!" cried Little, rising with much real or apparent difficulty, and pressing one hand upon his hip.
"You rascal, you!" roared Mr. Hamblin from the inside of his hat, as a dozen boys sprang forward to pick him up.
The professor was not a fashionable man, and did not wear a hat which would simply rest upon the top of his head, or which would pinch the depository of his ancient lore, and the weight of the student had pressed it far down over his eyes. With some labor he extricated his learned pate from its imprisonment, and glanced with dismay at the hat—a new one which he had bought in Antwerp to replace the one he had lost overboard in the hurricane.
"You scoundrel!" repeated thesavant, when he had removed the mutilated tile.
"He didn't mean to do it, sir," said Perth, pointing to the bloody face of Little; "he's almost killed himself."
"Are you hurt, Little?" demanded Mr. Lowington, rushing forward when he discovered what had happened.
"Yes, sir; almost killed," groaned the poor boy, making the wryest face a boy ever made, and twisting himself into a contortion of body which none but an India-rubber youth like himself could have accomplished.
"Pass the word for Dr. Winstock," added the principal, anxiously. "Are you much injured, Mr. Hamblin?"
"I believe there is a conspiracy to take my life," growled the professor, without replying to the direct question.
"Are you hurt, sir?"
"Not so much in body as in my feelings," answered Mr. Hamblin, holding out his damaged hat. "It was done on purpose, sir."
Dr. Winstock now appeared on the forecastle, and as Little seemed to be the greater sufferer, he attended to his case first. He examined the face of the boy, for by the most assiduous rubbing with his right hand while his left was devoted to the hip, he had contrived to besmear his face all over with the blood which flowed freely from his nose. The surgeon could find no wound on the face, and it was plain that there was nothing more terrible about the head than the nosebleed.
"Where are you hurt, Little?" asked the doctor.
"In the hip; it's broke!" replied the sufferer with an explosive groan.
Dr. Winstock laid the patient down upon the deck, and proceeded to examine him with the greatest care. He declared that no bones were broken.
"He appears to be suffering great pain," said the principal, anxiously.
"He has probably wrenched a muscle in his fall, and that is almost as painful as a broken bone. He has received no serious injury," replied the doctor, as he lifted the patient from the deck.
"I am glad it is no worse. How did it happen, Little?"
"I was coming in from the weather yard-arm, sir. I should have gone down the leech of the foresail if you had not told me not to, sir. O!" gasped Little, distorting his face, and doubling up his lithe little body.
"Never mind it now," added the principal, kindly.
"I feel a little better, sir. Mr. Hamblin began to say something to the fellows on deck, and I stopped to listen. O!"—and Little doubled up again. "I caught hold of the clew-garnet, sir—O! I was leaning down to hear what Mr. Hamblin said, and bore my whole weight on the clew-garnet. It wasn't belayed, sir,—O!—and it let me down."
Mr. Lowington desired to know what hands were stationed at the fore clew-garnets; but when they appeared, they were very confident they had belayed these ropes as usual. Little was advised to go below and turn in; but he preferred to remain on deck. As soon as the principal and the doctor had gone aft, the young reprobate turned to his companions, put histhumb to his bloody nose, and wiggled his fingers. Indeed, a remarkable cure seemed suddenly to have been wrought in his particular case; for he walked as nimbly as ever, until some of the officers came forward, when, unfortunately, he had a sudden relapse, from which he did not recover—when the "powers that be" were around—for several days.
After supper Paul was sent for, and repaired to the main cabin, where he found the principal, the surgeon, Mr. Hamblin, and several of the professors. Mr. Lowington stated the charge preferred against Captain Kendall, mentioning the evidence in support of it. He then inquired of the professor if he had anything to add to what he had already said on the subject.
Mr. Hamblin had something to add, but it was in the nature of an argument against the accused, rather than a statement of fact. He reviewed his life on board the Josephine since the troubles had commenced, enlarging upon the zeal with which he had discharged his duties. He gave his view of the difficulty between himself and the captain, as he had given it before; but he adduced no new proofs of the charges he preferred.
"The only question before us at the present time, Mr. Hamblin, is in regard to the authorship of the letter purporting to come from Monsieur Rogier," interposed Mr. Lowington. "Have you any new evidence to bring forward?"
"No, sir; I think the charge has been fully proved," replied Mr. Hamblin.
"Captain Kendall, if you have any defence to make,I am ready to hear it," added the principal, turning to Paul.
"I did not write the letter, and I had no knowledge whatever of it until Mr. Hamblin received it. Perhaps the writing resembles mine, but not very much. Will you let me take the letter, sir?"
The note was handed to him, and he pointed out several letters which were different from any in the exercises by which the similarity had been shown.
"Of course he would disguise the handwriting," interposed Mr. Hamblin.
"The writing alone would not prove anything," added Mr. Lowington.
"So far as the kind of paper is concerned," continued Paul, picking up the half quire which the professor had taken from his state-room, "I bought it in Antwerp for a particular purpose." He did not think it necessary to state that it was for his letters to Miss Grace Arbuckle.
"Are you quite sure you bought it in Antwerp?" demanded the professor.
"I shall prove that I did," replied Paul, indignantly. "I wish to say I had a hint that the officers and crew were very much dissatisfied with Mr. Hamblin, and—"
"With me!" exclaimed thesavant, as though it were quite impossible for the students to be dissatisfied with him.
"Allow Captain Kendall to make his statement, if you please," said the principal.
"But, Mr. Lowington, his statement is incorrect. I have been on the best of terms with the majorityof my pupils. Only a few of the worst of them have manifested any ill-will towards me."
"Go on, Captain Kendall," said the principal.
"I am prepared to prove all I say. If I had known that this investigation was to take place to-day, I should have asked for the attendance of several witnesses. I used all my influence to prevent any one from playing practical jokes upon Mr. Hamblin. I desire to have the first lieutenant of the Josephine, and Duncan, examined."
"What have they to do with it?" asked the professor, impatiently.
"After doing what I could to prevent others from annoying Mr. Hamblin by practical jokes, it is not likely that I should indulge in them myself."
"That is a good point; and to-morrow the witnesses shall be called," said Mr. Lowington.
"I will now ask Dr. Winstock to make his statement," added Paul, turning to the surgeon.
"The letter is postmarked 'Anvers,'" said the doctor, picking up the letter from the table. "It is utterly impossible that Captain Kendall had anything to do with this document."
"Why so, sir?" demanded Mr. Hamblin, nervously.
"This letter passed through the Antwerp post-office. If Captain Kendall had mailed it there, I should have seen him do it. He was not out of my sight a single moment from the time we left the Josephine till we returned to her. This paper," added the doctor, taking up the half quire, "was purchased in Antwerp. I went into the shop with Captain Kendall, and looked at the quality of it before it was done up."
"Are you satisfied, Mr. Hamblin?" asked the principal.
"No, sir, I am not," replied the professor, decidedly. "I am by no means certain that the paper on which this letter was written was obtained in Antwerp. It does not follow because Dr. Winstock did not see Mr. Kendall mail this letter, that it was not mailed by him. I did not see him mail it; Mr. Lowington did not see him mail it. He could have sent it to the post-office by a dozen of his confederates."
"Since Captain Kendall desires that the first lieutenant and Duncan should be heard, we will continue the examination till to-morrow," added the principal, rising from his chair.
The hearing was adjourned, and Paul returned to his room.
The pilot of the ship was discharged at eight o'clock in the evening, and the two vessels stood on their course to the northward, with a fresh breeze from the south-west. They kept just outside of the continuous chains of shoals on the coast, but for nearly the whole time within sight of the numerous lighthouses which mark the various entrances of the Scheldt and the Maas. The masters on duty were kept very busy in consulting the charts and the sailing directions; but at one o'clock the squadron was off the Brielle Gat, which is the deepest entrance to the river.
There are two principal passages by which vessels may reach Rotterdam from the sea. At the mouth of the Maas, or of the river which includes the Rhine, Waal, and Maas, there is a large island called the Voorne. At the north of it is the Brielle Gat, which is the most direct sea passage to the city; but the bar at its mouth has only seven and a half feet of water at low tide. At the south of the island is the Goeree Gat, by which the largest ships must enter, passing through the island in a canal.
The Dutch pilot who boarded the ship, after learning her draught, declared that she could go over the bar of the Brielle Gat, and both vessels went up by this passage. At five o'clock in the morning the squadron came to anchor in the broad bay before the city of Rotterdam.
Paul Kendall, free from all care, and not much disturbed by the cloud which hung over him, had turned out early to see the sights on the river. He had a splendid prospect of windmills, dikes, and ditches. The Dutch pilot spoke intelligible English, and the young inquirer laid him under contribution for his stores of knowledge. Paul asked a great many questions, which the pilot good-naturedly answered.
Vlaardingen, the principal port engaged in the herring fishery, was pointed out to him. Every year this place sends out about a hundred and fifty vessels, or more than one half of the whole number engaged in this branch of the fisheries. On the 10th or 11th of June, in each year, the officers of the herring fleet go to theStadhuis, or town hall, and take the prescribed oath to observe the laws regulating the fisheries of Holland. Three days later they hoist their flags on board, and go to church to pray for a season of success. On the following day, which is kept as a holiday in the town, the fleet sails. The fishing season ends on the 1st of November.
The herring are highly prized by the Dutch, and the first which are caught by the fleet are sent home in the fastest vessels; and when they are expected, watchmen are stationed in the Vlaardingen steeple to announce their approach. The first kegs are sent to the king and his chief officers of state. One ofthese first cargoes produces about three hundred and twenty-five dollars, or eight hundred guilders.
With a dense cloud of smoke hanging above it stood the town of Schiedam, which contains nearly two hundred distilleries for the manufacture of gin. Holland gin and Schiedam schnapps are regarded by those who indulge in these beverages as the best in the world. The place was surrounded by windmills, which are a principal feature of the scenery in all parts of Holland proper.
After breakfast the signal was hoisted for the Josephines to attend the lecture on board the ship, and a boat was sent ashore, in charge of the steward, to procure the mail. The students were perched in the rigging, observing the strange scenes which presented themselves on every hand. The river was full of market boats loaded with vegetables, the principal of which was a coarse plant, with large, straggling leaves, used as cabbage or greens. There were large and small steamers plying in every direction, and the scene was quite lively.
The Josephine's ship's company came on board, and all hands were piped to lecture. Professor Mapps was at his post, with the map of the Netherlands hanging on the foremast. His description of the dikes and ditches of Holland was very full; but such portions of it as have been given by Mr. Stoute will be omitted.
"Young gentlemen," he began, "I have already called your attention to the physical geography of the Netherlands. The Rhine, which in Germany is theRhein, and in Holland theRhyn, has its mouths inHolland. Its length is nine hundred and sixty miles, and it is of vast importance to Europe in a commercial point of view, being navigable for large vessels to Cologne, and nearly to its source for smaller ones, though occasionally interrupted by falls and rapids above Basle. Vessels of one hundred tons go up to Strasbourg.
"The Rhine enters Holland, and immediately divides into two branches, the southern being the Waal, and the northern retaining the original name. The Waal is the larger of the two, and flows west until it unites with the Maas, or Meuse, in Belgium, on one of whose estuaries our ship now floats. About ten miles below the Waal branch, the original Rhine divides again, the northern branch being called the Yssel, which flows north into the Zuyder Zee. Thirty miles below the Yssel, it divides for a third time, the southern branch being called the Leek, of which the arm that flows by Rotterdam is the more direct continuation, though all these branches are connected by frequent cut-offs. The original Rhine pursues its way to the German Ocean. The dunes, or sand-hills, formerly closed up this branch, and for a long period the water did not flow through it; but at the beginning of the present century a canal was opened through the old bed.
"The Yssel formerly flowed into a fresh-water lake, where the Zuyder Zee, or Southern Sea, now is. Nearly the whole of the space occupied by this sea was then dry land; but the ocean, in the course of time, swept away its barriers, and covered the region with water, which is navigable, however, only forsmall vessels. Amsterdam is situated on an arm of this sea, called the Ij, or Eye, as it is pronounced. From the Helder, a point of land at the southern entrance to the Zuyder Zee, a ship canal, fifty miles in length, extends to the city. This is the 'great ditch' of Holland. It is eighteen feet deep, and broad enough for two large ships to pass each other, having a double set of locks at each end, in order to keep the water of uniform height, as in a dock.
"You are already familiar with the peculiar conformation of Holland. There is not a hill, a forest, or a ledge of rocks worth mentioning in the whole region. A large portion of its territory has been redeemed from the ocean by the most persevering labor, and by the most unremitting care and watchfulness is it kept from destruction. The sea is higher than the land, the lowest ground in the country being from twenty-four to thirty feet below high-water mark. The keel of the Young America, floating in some of the waters of Holland, would be higher than the ridge-pole of the Dutchman's cottage on the other side of the dike.
"These low grounds, formerly swamps and lagoons, which lie below the sea level, are calledpolders. These were originally charged with water, and merely shutting out the sea was only half the battle. As in Ireland, the principal fuel of the people is peat, or turf, ten million tons of which are annually used. Immense excavations have been made in the polders to obtain the peat; and the inhabitants stand an ultimate chance of being robbed of their country by fire as well as by water.
"The natural lakes and the peat-holes—the latter from twelve to twenty feet deep—formed extensive water-basins. Some of you will remember the turf diggings in the great bog in Ireland, as we passed through it on our way to Killarney. The peat was not dug out in trenches, but the entire surface of the land was skimmed off, just as workmen in the city dig away a hill. It was so in Holland; and you must understand that the bottom of these peat-beds forms the land now improved as gardens and farms.
"These depressions of the surface were filled with water. The first thing to be done is to shut out the ocean and its tributaries—all those rivers of which I have been speaking, that form a network of canals all over the country. For this purpose a dike is built on the border of the land to be enclosed. Take, for example, the Island of Ysselmonde,—the land next south of us,—and Holland really consists of nothing but islands formed by the rivers and the natural and artificial canals. It will, therefore, be a correct specimen of the system of dikes and ditches throughout the country, though some of the sections are subject to greater or less difficulty in the drainage, owing to various causes, which will be explained.
"When the dike around Ysselmonde is finished, the country is protected from inundation from without. Sometimes in winter the river may be blocked with ice, which stops the passage of the water. All the ice from the Rhine and Meuse must pass through these rivers on their way to the sea, and, being stopped in a narrow place, it forms a dam. In 1799 a large portion of Holland was threatened with total destruction, on account of one of these blockades. Behind the dam the water rose seven feet in one hour, overflowing the dikes, and breaking through them. This danger is incurred every winter; but disaster is generally warded off by the vigilance of the dike-keepers.