WYBORG AND THE SECOND DEGREE.
"I should like to know what the name of this place is," said Lincoln to Dr. Winstock, who was seated near him in the commodore's barge, which was leading the line to the shore. "In one book it is Viborg; in another, Wiborg; in a third, Wyborg." "The different spellings of the same word simply indicate the attempts of authors to render the foreign sounds into English," replied the surgeon. "We have the same variety in many other words. On the English maps of Russia, you will find the names of rivers, provinces, and towns given in many different ways; as, Kief, Kiev, and Kiew, the latter being the German rendering of the word; Nyzni, Nysni, Nezhnii, and a dozen other forms. Of course you can take your choice. As for Wyborg, I think it will hardly pay to land, for there is really nothing to be seen here. Like Constantinople, the best view of the town is from the outside."
"It certainly looks well from the bay."
The students landed at the town, which is built on uneven ground. Most of the streets are narrow and crooked, and the travellers soon realized the truth of the surgeon's view. At the east side of the place is anold castle in ruins. On a rock, rising from an arm of the sea, is a lofty old tower, which has played its part in many a battle and siege, for Wyborg was long a bone of contention between Sweden and Russia, before the latter obtained possession, of it. Looking to the eastward of the town, vast sheets of water may be seen, on which small steamers ply, as at Stockholm, and a few miles distant are a garden and summer resort for the people. A series of rivers and lakes connects Lakes Ladoga and Saima, and a canal at Wyborg joins both of these great sheets of water to the Gulf of Finland. Lakes Onega and Ladoga are united by the River Svir, upon which plies a small steamer. The waters of Lake Onega also mingle with those of the Volga. The Volkof River flows from Lake Ilmen into Ladoga, and is navigable for barges; and Lake Ilmen, by the help of a canal, is also connected with the Volga. A boat may, therefore, start from the upper waters of the Finnish lakes, and go through to the Caspian Sea.
A couple of hours in Wyborg fully satisfied the party, and they returned to the boats for an excursion by water around the town. The scenery in the vicinity is very pleasant, and at seven o'clock the students landed at a green island.
"Now, fellows, we can attend to the second degree," said Scott, when he had gathered some of the Bangwhangers around him, and found a retired place.
The members of the fraternity knew each other so well, that there was no difficulty in separating themselves from the rest of the ship's company. The eight officers assembled near the shore, on a point of land wherethere was a wooden shanty, that had evidently been used for cleaning and curing fish, for a villainous smell came from it, which was very trying to the olfactories of the members.
"How will this do?" asked Jones, as he opened the door of the shanty.
"First rate. We shall initiate the candidates into the mysteries of a horrible odor at the same time," replied Scott, as the officers entered the rude building.
"A fellow that has been to sea three months needn't mind this," laughed Jones.
"All right; place the O. L. M. outside of the building, the I. L. M. inside, near the door," said Scott, as he turned over a fish-tub for his own throne as C. B., and placed it at one end of the building, while Wainwright, the D. C. B., located himself at the other end.
"Officers, to your stations; proceed to open a lodge of Bangwhangers. Y. D. K., on my right; Q. D., on my left; R. P. F. and L. P. F., on my left. Brother D. C. B., are you a Bangwhanger?"
"Of course I am."
"Bang!"
"Whang!"
"Who knows?"
"Eye, nose."
"Who knows?"
"Eighty-six noes."
"Right; come to my arms. How many officers in a lodge of Bangwhangers?"
"Eight; and nothing can be done with a less number," replied the D. C.B., who answered all these questions, and named all the officers.
"Brother O. L. M., what are you?"
"I am the Outside Lookout Man," replied Hall, who had been called in to answer.
"What do you do?"
"Keep a sharp lookout on the outside of the lodge."
"If any outsider approaches, what do you do?"
"Give him fits."
"Right; keep your weather eye open. Brother I. L. M., what are you?"
"The Inside Lookout Man."
"What do you do?"
"Keep a sharp lookout inside."
"If any outsider comes in, what do you do?"
"Kick him out."
"Suppose he is bigger than you are?"
"Give him a stick of candy, and tell him his grandmother is waiting for him round the corner."
"Right; keep a stiff upper lip. Brother R. P. F., what are you?"
"The Right Pilot Fish."
"What do you do?"
"Stand on the starboard side of the candidate, and tow him round."
"Right; heave ahead, my hearty. Brother L. P. F., what are you?"
"The Left Pilot Fish."
"What do you do?"
"Stand on the port side of the candidate, and help tow him around."
"Right; stand by the hawser. Brother Q. D., what are you?"
"The Quill Driver."
"What do you do?"
"When anything is done, make a note of it."
"Right; mind your eye, my hearty. Brother Y.D.K., what are you?"
"The Yellow Dirt Keeper."
"What do you do?"
"Keep the money."
"Will you keep it?"
"I'll bet I will."
"Right; stand by the locker. Brother D. C. B., what are you?"
"The Deputy Chief Bangwhanger."
"What do you do?"
"Make faces at the C. B. when he is present, and take his place when he is absent."
"Your duties are important—where do you sit?"
"Opposite the C. B."
"What for?"
"To help him keep up his dignity."
"How?"
"By making faces at him."
"What is the C. B.?"
"The Chief Bangwhanger."
"What does he do?"
"Bosses the job, and is the biggest toad in the puddle."
"Why is he like strong drink?"
"Because he goes to the head," replied the D. C. B., with a hideous grimace, which made all the officers laugh.
"Right; you have said enough; clap a stopper on your jaw tackle," saidScott. "The ship is under way, and the officers are at their stations."
Scott added that they had no time to spare, and the business must proceed at once.
"Sail ho!" shouted the lookout, outside of the door.
"Sail ho!" repeated the one on the inside.
"Where away?" asked the C. B.
"Alongside now," replied the I. L. M.
"The name?"
"Clyde Blacklock; and he wants to come on board."
"Has he been instructed in the Rule of Three?" which meant the three clauses of the obligation.
"Ay, ay, sir."
"Let him in."
The R. P. F. and the L. P. F. went out, and soon returned with Clyde Blacklock between them. On his head, and drawn entirely over it, was a white cap. A yard of cotton cloth had been purchased at Helsingfors, which had been sewed up like a meal bag. This was pulled down over the candidate's face, and the square end of it hung down in front of him, having upon it, in letters cut out of black cloth, and sewed upon the cotton, the mysterious device AT-VI., which, however, did not relate to "Plantation Bitters."
"Hah! You have caught him!" exclaimed the C. B., in the most savage of tones.
"Ay, ay, sir! We captured him outside, and in spite of his frantic struggles, have brought him before you to be examined," replied the R. P. F.
"What is he?" demanded Scott, in gruff notes.
"A vile Indian."
"Hah!"
"A 'ticklarly vile Indian."
"When was he caught?"
"At six."
"Has he been searched?"
"Not yet."
"Does he confess?"
"Not yet."
"Clyde Blacklock, answer me truly," said Scott, solemnly. "Did you steal it?"
"Answer him," said the candidate's conductor, in a low voice.
"Steal what?" asked Clyde.
"The bag out of which a faithless Brother of the Most Respectable Order of Bangwhangers let the cat," added the C. B., tragically.
"No, I didn't."
"Let him be searched!" continued Scott, in a sepulchral tone.
Whereupon the officers, who had silently gathered around the candidate, began to punch him in the ribs, and under the ears, not to hurt, but only to tickle him. As Clyde was sensitive in this direction, as almost anybody would be when taken by surprise, the effect was very decided, and the candidate wriggled, and squirmed, and roared.
"He has it I We have found it upon him!" said the R. P. F., suddenly.
"Hah!" cried Scott. "The vile Indian is guilty."
"Guilty!" responded all the other officers.
"Does he see it?" demanded the C. B.
"He don't see it."
"Let him see it!"
Then the R. P. F. and the L. P. F. seized the white cap by the corners, and jerked it violently from Clyde's head, and laid it on the floor before him, with the letters right side up to him. All the officers pointed at the cap, with the most extravagant expressions of surprise and indignation upon their faces.
"Behold the bag!" exclaimed the group, in concert.
"And it has our mark upon it," replied Scott, with indignation in his looks and tones. Then suddenly changing his voice and manner, he continued, very gently, "Brother Blacklock, this degree is founded upon the story of a vile Indian in the wilds of America. Some emigrants were travelling over the prairies of the great west, intending to settle in Nevada. One of them had a favorite Maltese cat, of which the whole party were very fond. They were very much afraid of losing the creature, and for greater security they carried her in a bag,—precisely like that just found upon you,—bearing upon it the initials of the owner's name, which was, in full, Andrew Thomas Vincent Iverson. For a guide they had a vile Indian, who, like all vile Indians, was very fond of whiskey. One night this vile Indian was particularly 'dry.' and wanted to 'wet his whistle' with fire-water. After the emigrants had gone to sleep, he searched the camp for some of his favorite beverage. He came across the bag containing the Maltese cat. As the contents thereof seemed to be lively, he thought it contained a bottle of whiskey. He opened the bag, and the cat leaped out, not whiskey; in other words, he let the catout of the bag—at all times a very grave and terrible offence. When he saw what he had done, he was alarmed, and concealed the bag within his clothes, intending to make the emigrants believe that the cat had run away, carrying the bag with her. But, vile Indian that he was, his employers suspected him, and punching him in the ribs, they discovered the bag. Then they knew that he had let the cat out of the bag, and as the penalty of his crime, they compelled him to eat Bologna sausage until he couldn't help barking. Brother Blacklock, this solemn ceremony is intended to convince you that, should you ever let the cat out of the bag, you will be subjected to the same penalty as the vile Indian, who was A 'Ticklarly Vile Indian. This bag bears our mark,—AT-VI.,—which relates to the hour you were caught—at six. It also means A 'Ticklarly Vile Indian, and alludes, besides, to the rallying number of our order—AT., eighty; VI., six. Brother Blacklock, it is your next move. Take a seat where you find one."
"This will never do," interposed the D. C. B. "Some of the members will die of old age before we can give them the second degree at this rate."
"I was thinking of that myself," replied Scott; "and I have the remedy. We will go through the first part with the candidates singly, and explain the meaning of it to the crowd all together. Then it won't take two minutes apiece."
"Right, Most Respectable C. B.," replied the D. C. B.
Another "vile Indian" was easily captured outside of the fish-house,and was passed through the same ceremony. He was duly tickled till he rolled on the ground, pronounced guilty of stealing the bag, allowed to see it; and when the mark upon it was indignantly identified, the candidate was sent to a seat. About twenty went through this part of the performance, and then, when all of them were placed in front of the C. B., he told them the story of "A 'Ticklarly Vile Indian." All of them were solemnly warned not to let the cat out of the bag; and in closing the lodge, those who had just been "elevated" to the second degree, were permitted to learn the meaning of the mysterious initials. All who had participated in the ceremonies, either as active or passive agents, were delighted with the fun, and those who were patiently waiting their turn to be elevated, were very much disappointed when obliged to go on board their respective vessels without their second degree, especially as those who had taken it looked wise and mysterious, and would not even hint at anything which had transpired in the lodge.
"How's that for high?" asked Scott, as they left the fish-house.
"Tip-top," replied Wainwright, the D. C. B., who was now the second purser of the ship; "but we may not get a chance to do anything more for weeks."
"I think we can find some place to do it in the ship. The mess-rooms are rather small, but we can make one of them answer on a pinch," replied Scott. "By the way, Wainwright, I don't know that you want to belong any longer."
"Why not?"
"Because you are an officer now."
"That won't make any difference. The seamen can't go into the cabin; but the officers can go into the steerage. I think the lodge makes rare fun, and I, for one, enjoy it hugely. I would rather go back into the steerage than lose the sport."
"You'll do," laughed Scott. "I was thinking it was about time for you to begin to put on airs."
"You will begin about the time I do. You are my superior officer in the Bangwhangers."
"But I will give up my office to a bigger fellow."
"No fellow that belongs would be willing to have you give it up."
"You are very kind."
"Now, can't we get up another degree?" asked the second purser.
"When we have given all the fellows the second degree, it will be time enough to talk about the third. How does Cantwell get along in the cabin?"
"First rate. What you said to him did him a heap of good, for he don't put on airs, and don't exhibit so much selfishness as the officers say he did. I suppose you know that the De Forresters are sick of their bargain?"
"I concluded that they were. It was a hard nut to have Cantwell elected over them."
"De Forrest has already got up a petition to the principal to restore the old way of electing the officers; but the fellows in the cabin don't like the idea of signing it yet. It looks too much like backing down."
"I rather like the present plan," laughed Scott; "and I want it to have a fair trial."
"That's just what the principal says," added Wainwright.
The students embarked, and were soon on board of their vessels.
"What were you fellows up to in that old shanty?" said De Forrest to Wainwright, as they met in the cabin.
"That's telling," replied the second purser.
"It was that secret society."
"Well, what if it was?"
"What are you up to now? Are you getting ready for the next election."
"That's our affair."
"I don't believe in a secret society to control the elections."
"You are entitled to your own belief."
"It isn't right."
"But it's just what you fellows in the cabin did before Cantwell was elected," answered Wainwright.
"We hadn't any secret society: we only met in the cabin to talk over the matter."
"In the cabin, where no one but yourselves could come."
"We are going to do away with this thing, anyhow, and go back to the old plan," added De Forrest.
"And confess that your famous plan was good for nothing?"
"The plan was a good one, but the fellows won't be fair."
"Which means that they wouldn't make you first lieutenant."
"It don't mean that. It means that a majority of the fellows—all ofthem in the steerage—voted for a fellow for captain whom they did not like, and who, they knew, was not fit for the place, out of spite to the officers. If they had voted on their own judgment, instead of following Scott's lead—"
"They would have elected you," laughed Wainwright.
"No; they would have chosen Lincoln captain."
"But they did choose him commodore."
"And shoved Cumberland down to first lieutenant."
"And you down to first purser—the ship's chief clerk."
"I think I ought to have had a better position than the one I got."
"But you have your merit-rank; and it looks now as though your plan was intended to save yourself from a bad fall, rather than to keep Cantwell from being captain."
"I wasn't thinking of myself at all."
"All the fellows say that you nominated yourself for first lieutenant."
"I suppose all the officers wanted to get as good places as they could."
"If that was what they were driving at, they needn't blame the fellows in the steerage for taking things into their own hands."
"I say, Wainwright, can't a fellow join the secret society?"
"That depends upon who the fellow is."
"One about my size."
"Yes, if the society will take him in."
"Will they take me in?"
"I don't know."
"I want to join."
"Because you want to be captain, or something of that sort," laughed the second purser. "I don't believe it would do you any good. Are you willing to vote for Cantwell for commodore next month?"
"No! I am not. Is that your game?"
"I didn't say it was."
"If it is, I won't join."
"No one has asked you to do so."
"Cantwell for commodore!" exclaimed De Forrest, in disgust, as he walked away from his companion.
In ten minutes he had told half of the officers that the secret society intended to make Cantwell commodore next month, and when his duties as first purser required him to visit the main cabin soon after, he revealed the momentous secret to Mr. Lowington.
"If this is a secret society, how do you know?" asked the principal.
"Wainwright, who is a member, said as much to me," replied the purser.
The second purser was called.
"I have heard a great deal about your secret society, Wainwright," continued the principal. "You have just had a meeting on the island?"
"Yes, sir."
"I do not believe in secret societies for political purposes. Do you intend to make Cantwell commodore next month?"
"We have no such plan at present."
"Didn't you ask me, when I spoke of joining, if I would vote forCantwell for commodore?" asked De Forrest.
"I did."
"I think that's enough, sir," added the first purser.
"If Cantwell is using this society to make himself commodore, it is time to suppress the society."
"Cantwell is not a member of it, sir," replied Wainwright. "It was got up simply to defeat the plan of the officers to control the election. At the meeting on the island to-day, not a word was said about the elections in any way. If the nominations are fairly made next time, I don't believe the society will meddle with them."
"I hope not," added Mr. Lowington.
"If the officers nominate in the cabin, without consulting the seamen, very likely the society will do something."
"In that case, I should not object; for a secret society in the steerage is no worse than one in the cabin."
"But what is the society for?" asked De Forrest, dissatisfied with the situation.
"Simply for fun, for amusement—nothing else." replied Wainwright.
"Where do you meet?" asked the principal, curiously.
"We met in that old fish-house on the island. We have no place in the ship. I was going to ask you, sir, if we might fit up a place in the hold," added Wainwright.
"The hold is not a fit place for any meeting. I can do better, if assured that your society is a proper one."
"I think it is, sir. There is nothing in it contrary to the rules ofthe ship. In all the colleges there are secret societies, such as the Φ. Β. Κ."
"You may have the main cabin one evening in a week."
"Thank you, sir. We shall be very grateful to you," replied Wainwright, utterly confounded by the generosity of the principal.
De Forrest was disgusted, and went away with "a flea in his ear." Of course the action of the principal was immediately known among all the officers. Cumberland only laughed, while others looked grave, and proposed that they should get up a society among the officers. The proposition was hailed with a shout of satisfaction, and a committee appointed to prepare a plan. Wainwright hastened to Scott with the pleasant news he had to tell, and the main cabin was obtained for that evening. As the instructors spent most of their unoccupied time on deck, this was no hardship to them. The lodge opened again, with those present who had taken the second degree. In older to make the thing more ludicrous than before, the officers enveloped themselves in blankets, sheets, and such other fantastic apparel as they could lay hands upon, and each one placed his small tin wash-bowl on his head, the handle of which stuck out like a queue behind. The curtain over the skylight was drawn so that no one on deck could see into the cabin. The pantry was built out from the bulkhead, which separated it from the main cabin, into the steerage, forming a space, or gangway, four feet wide, between the pantry and the mess-rooms, from winch one of the doors opened into the cabin. A blanket was extended across from the front of the pantry,before the starboard door, making an apartment four feet square, in which the O. L. M. was stationed. The candidate was admitted to this place, and when the bag was drawn over his head, he was conducted into the lodge. The ceremonies were performed with even more spirit than in the old fish-house, and the roars of laughter that went up from the main cabin assured those within hearing that the members were having a good time. All the rest in the ship who had taken their first degree were "elevated" to the second on this occasion. At the close of the initiation, a vote of thanks to the principal was unanimously passed, for his kindness in granting the society the use of the cabin; and after some debate, he was also elected an honorary member of the order, with the privilege of attending any and all its meetings—a privilege of which, however, he magnanimously declined to avail himself.
The next morning the squadron sailed for Cronstadt, and, as the weather was beautiful, the trip was a very pleasant one. The gulf was lively with steamers, and sailing vessels of all kinds, from the smallest Russian fishing shallop up to the largest man-of-war. There were iron-clads and steamers of all sizes belonging to the Russian navy, and the students gazed with interest at half a dozen monitors. These war vessels were all engaged in various manœuvres and evolutions for practice.
"What flag is that, Mr. Lowington?" asked Captain Cantwell, as a vessel passed them.
"The Russian flag," replied the principal, surprised that the captain of the ship should ask such a question.
"But I thought that on the men-of-war was the Russian flag."
"Both of them."
"I saw this white flag, crossed with a stripe of blue from the corners, on the Russian fleet which came to America several years ago, and I supposed that was the Russian flag."
"It is the Russian man-of-war flag. The Russian merchant flag consists, as you see, of three equal strips of bunting, extending lengthwise—the top one white, the bottom red, and the middle one blue. The Russian royal standard is a yellow flag, with the double eagle in the middle. Most of the European nations have several flags. You will find diagrams of all these flags, standards, and jacks, in several volumes in the library."
"Thank you, sir. I will study them," replied Cantwell, touching his cap.
In the afternoon, as seven bells struck, the squadron was approaching Cronstadt. The channel was indicated by a light-house on the port side, and a light-ship on the starboard. The water in the vicinity was covered with fishing boats, from which men were engaged with lines, seines, and hoop-nets. Around the town are several islands, all of them fortified, some of them having three-story forts, and others extensive earthworks. In 1854 the Baltic squadron, under Sir Charles Napier, visited this locality, but made no attack, though the British vessels found a channel by which it was possible to pass the fortifications; but it has since been closed. The town, which contains a population of thirty-seven thousand (two thirds of it constituting the garrison), is built on anisland, and is cut up by two canals, one leading to the "Merchants Harbor," and the other to the naval repairing dock South of the town is an immense harbor, capable of holding thousands of vessels.
Cronstadt is Russia's principal naval station, and contains vast manufactories and storehouses belonging to the government. Scores of old seventy-four gun ships, built of wood, and now practically useless for modern warfare, are laid up here. The town is the port of St. Petersburg, seventeen miles distant and all large vessels are obliged to discharge and load here, though most of the steamers from foreign countries run up to the city. The bar of the River Neva has only from eight to ten feet of water.
The squadron ran into Merchants' Harbor, and came to anchor there. Within it, vessels were loading and unloading at the very doors of the warehouses. The students were allowed to land at once, but there was little to be seen in the town, which is simply a commercial place, though the government buildings are lofty and substantial structures. A better idea of the fortifications was, however, obtained, and the boys realized that St. Petersburg was safe from capture by sea, until something even more terrible than iron-clads should be invented.