[Top]CHAPTERXIX.SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED ON SHORE.Oscar Chester was not killed, or even very seriously injured. The last blow of Dory had been planted in a sensitive place, and he had been stunned by it. His companions gathered around him, lifted him up, and procured some water from the Fouquet Hotel, with which they washed his head. In a few minutes his senses came back to him, and he was able to comprehend the situation.Dory had been hit several times; but he was a tough youngster, and seemed to be none the worse for the battle. As he viewed the matter, he had simply defended himself, according to the first law of nature. He had done his best beforehand to avoid the fight, and had proposed to talk the matter over in order to ascertain who was to blame.“That was an awful crack you gave him at the end,” said Fireman Bolingbroke Millweed, joiningDory, who stood alone on the grass. “I didn’t know that you were such a hard hitter.”“I did not know it myself,” replied Dory, wiping the perspiration from his brow. “I am not a fighting character, and I never struck a blow in my life except in self-defence.”“I think Chester has got enough of it,” added the fireman.“I don’t know about that. He acts to me as though he was crazy. It would be just like him to pitch into me again as soon as he feels able to do so. I am sure I don’t want to quarrel with him, especially as he is to be in the pilot-house with me. If I have done any thing out of the way, I am willing to beg his pardon; but he wouldn’t even talk with me about his grudge against me.”“I saw the whole of it, and heard all that was said. I am sure you are not to blame,” added Bolingbroke. “But I was glad to see you knock him out after he was so unreasonable.”“You were in the boat last night when the trouble began, and I hope you will be able to remember what passed between Oscar and me; for, after this, my uncle will be very likely to investigate the case.”“I remember all about it. Oscar wanted to steer the boat, and you objected. When he got up from his seat,—to take the helm, I suppose,—you told him to sit down; and you spoke rather sharply. Then the boat gave a lurch, and he went overboard. If it hadn’t been for you, Dory, he would have been drowned as sure as fate,” replied Bolingbroke, rehearsing the facts precisely as they were.“I am ready to face the music, and if I have done any thing wrong I shall be glad to apologize for it. In this fight, I only defended myself, as I think every fellow ought to do.”“How are you, Dory?”The pilot looked around, and saw Mr. Peppers, a constable of Plattsburgh, who sometimes did detective work. He had sailed down the lake with Dory in the Goldwing a few weeks before, and Peppers had a strong regard for the skipper.“I am glad to see you, Mr. Peppers,” replied Dory, shaking hands with the detective.“You have settled that fellow so that he won’t want any more of your love-pats,” replied Peppers, laughing. “I saw the whole of it, and it was handsomely done.”“I merely defended myself. He pitched intome, and I could not help myself,” answered the pilot in the language and tone of apology; for he did not want any one to think that he ever engaged in a voluntary fight.“I know it: I saw the whole of it. You were trying to talk with him when he rushed upon you,” added Peppers.By this time Oscar Chester appeared to have recovered from the heavy blows of his brother pilot. He and Will Orwell walked up the street towards the town. The excitement was all over, and the other pupils scattered. Peppers followed Chester. Dory was doubtful what to do. At first he thought of going on board of the Sylph, and reporting the battle to his uncle.After a little consideration, and some talk with Bolingbroke about it, he decided not to do so. He was ready to answer to any charge that might be brought against him, and it would be time enough to defend himself when he was accused. He called at the Witherill House, had a chat with the landlord and the clerk, and then returned to the wharf. By this time most of the boys had seen all they wanted to of the town, and were ready to go on board. Captain Gildrock hadcome on shore, and had just gone on board with the two Plattsburgh boys who were to join the school.Bates was in charge of the boats; and, as soon as the crew of one of them appeared, he sent one load on board. The principal was instructing the two new hands, who had already put on the uniform. One was a steward, and the other belonged to the port watch.At a little after three o’clock the other boat came off, and the students rushed up the accommodation steps as though they enjoyed the steamer and the lake more than the town. George Duane, the new steward, was handed over to Bob Swanton, after a proper introduction; and they retired to the forward cabin.“Have all hands come on board?” asked Captain Gildrock.The boys looked about them, as though they were unable to answer the question.“You don’t know: well, we can soon ascertain by calling the roll,” added the principal, as he took the list of students from his pocket. “Mr. Glovering.”“Here sir,” replied the first officer in the midstof the laughter of the boys when they heard the handle applied to his name.“Mr. Orwell.”“Here, sir.”“Mr. Dornwood.”“Here, sir.”“Mr. Chester.”There was no response to this name, and it was repeated. There was no answer.“Is the second pilot on board?” asked Captain Gildrock; and Dory wondered if he knew any thing about the second battle of Plattsburgh.The first and second officers looked about the deck and into the cabins for the missing pilot, but he could not be found. A more thorough search was made by all hands, and it was soon evident that “Mr. Chester” was not on board. The captain finished the call of the roll, and made no remark in regard to the disappearance of the second pilot. He directed the first officer to get up the anchor.It looked as though Oscar Chester had absconded, notwithstanding his good conduct during the forenoon. Possibly some of the boys, especially Will Orwell, knew something aboutthe matter; but they did not volunteer to give any information, and the principal did not ask for any. He said nothing at all, in fact, about the missing student. The captain did not appear to be in the least degree disturbed by the absence of the refractory pupil.Captain Gildrock looked on while the crew walked around the capstan. The officers had learned their lesson well; and, for a first trial, the operation of getting up the anchor was handsomely done.The first pilot was at his post; and, as soon as “anchor aweigh” was reported to him, he rang the gong. Mr. Jepson stood on deck, near the door of the engine-room, having stationed his first assistant at the machine. He opened the valve slowly, and the thumping of the screw was immediately heard.Captain Gildrock had gone to the hurricane deck, where he could see all that was done in the pilot-house and on the forecastle. He cast occasional glances at the wharf, and he directed Dory to run in that direction. Then he called the first officer, and told him to get ready to make a landing.Dory ran the Sylph up to the wharf, where she was secured by the enthusiastic crew. The portion of the bulwark at the starboard gangway was removed, and the plank run out. While Mr. Glovering was wondering who was going on shore, Oscar Chester stepped out of the building on the wharf, and walked on board as coolly as though nothing had happened to disturb his equanimity.“Haul in the plank!” called the captain. “Cast off, Dory.”The pilot on duty blew a sharp whistle, which was the signal to cast off the fasts; and the officers below attended to this duty. The Sylph backed out from the wharf, and then went ahead, the engine being wholly managed by Corny Minkfield. Oscar Chester went directly to the hurricane deck, and was about to enter the pilot-house, when he was confronted by Captain Gildrock.“You are late, Mr. Chester,” said the principal.“I came on board against my will, sir. In fact, I was brought down to the wharf,” replied Oscar.“Indeed? Who brought you to the wharf?” asked the captain with a half-suppressed chuckle.“I wasn’t introduced to him, but he said he was a constable.”“You ought to have been introduced to him,” laughed the captain. “I can’t go through the ceremony now, because the constable is not here; but his name is Peppers. Dory knows him, and he will introduce you if I don’t happen to be present when you meet again. Am I to understand from what you say that you did not intend to return to the steamer?”“I did not intend to return: on the contrary, I meant to run away; for I suppose that is what you would call it,” replied Oscar.“If I remember rightly, you promised this morning to behave as well as you knew how, if I released you from the brig,” added the captain.“I meant what I said at the time, and intended to keep my promise; but something happened on shore that prevented me from doing so,” replied Oscar rather sheepishly for him.“What is the matter with your face, Mr. Chester? Your nose is swelled, and you have a mouse under each eye. I should say that both of your eyes would be in mourning for the next week,” added Captain Gildrock.“The black eyes are in consequence of somethingthat happened on shore,” answered the second pilot.“What was that?”“Excuse me, sir: if you will ask Dory, he can tell the story better than I can,” replied Oscar, glancing at the pilot at the wheel.This conversation took place at the door of the pilot-house, and Dory could not help hearing all that was said; and if he looked behind him he could see the parties.“I prefer that you should tell your own story,” added the principal rather sternly. “My business just now is with you and not with Dory.”“To make a short story of it, sir, I attempted to thrash Dory, and I got thrashed myself,” answered the culprit.“Served you right!” exclaimed the captain. “Have you settled the matter finally?”“It seems to have settled itself, sir. I had no doubt I could whip Dory as easily as I could turn my hand. I never met one of these proper fellows before that I could not whip, and without the least difficulty. I am satisfied now that he can whip me every time, and that settles the matter.”“I should say that you judge yourself and Dory by a very mean and cowardly standard. But if you are satisfied, nobody else need complain this time. Return to your duty, Mr. Chester.”Oscar went to the wheel, and did not seem to have any delicacy about meeting Dory.
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Oscar Chester was not killed, or even very seriously injured. The last blow of Dory had been planted in a sensitive place, and he had been stunned by it. His companions gathered around him, lifted him up, and procured some water from the Fouquet Hotel, with which they washed his head. In a few minutes his senses came back to him, and he was able to comprehend the situation.
Dory had been hit several times; but he was a tough youngster, and seemed to be none the worse for the battle. As he viewed the matter, he had simply defended himself, according to the first law of nature. He had done his best beforehand to avoid the fight, and had proposed to talk the matter over in order to ascertain who was to blame.
“That was an awful crack you gave him at the end,” said Fireman Bolingbroke Millweed, joiningDory, who stood alone on the grass. “I didn’t know that you were such a hard hitter.”
“I did not know it myself,” replied Dory, wiping the perspiration from his brow. “I am not a fighting character, and I never struck a blow in my life except in self-defence.”
“I think Chester has got enough of it,” added the fireman.
“I don’t know about that. He acts to me as though he was crazy. It would be just like him to pitch into me again as soon as he feels able to do so. I am sure I don’t want to quarrel with him, especially as he is to be in the pilot-house with me. If I have done any thing out of the way, I am willing to beg his pardon; but he wouldn’t even talk with me about his grudge against me.”
“I saw the whole of it, and heard all that was said. I am sure you are not to blame,” added Bolingbroke. “But I was glad to see you knock him out after he was so unreasonable.”
“You were in the boat last night when the trouble began, and I hope you will be able to remember what passed between Oscar and me; for, after this, my uncle will be very likely to investigate the case.”
“I remember all about it. Oscar wanted to steer the boat, and you objected. When he got up from his seat,—to take the helm, I suppose,—you told him to sit down; and you spoke rather sharply. Then the boat gave a lurch, and he went overboard. If it hadn’t been for you, Dory, he would have been drowned as sure as fate,” replied Bolingbroke, rehearsing the facts precisely as they were.
“I am ready to face the music, and if I have done any thing wrong I shall be glad to apologize for it. In this fight, I only defended myself, as I think every fellow ought to do.”
“How are you, Dory?”
The pilot looked around, and saw Mr. Peppers, a constable of Plattsburgh, who sometimes did detective work. He had sailed down the lake with Dory in the Goldwing a few weeks before, and Peppers had a strong regard for the skipper.
“I am glad to see you, Mr. Peppers,” replied Dory, shaking hands with the detective.
“You have settled that fellow so that he won’t want any more of your love-pats,” replied Peppers, laughing. “I saw the whole of it, and it was handsomely done.”
“I merely defended myself. He pitched intome, and I could not help myself,” answered the pilot in the language and tone of apology; for he did not want any one to think that he ever engaged in a voluntary fight.
“I know it: I saw the whole of it. You were trying to talk with him when he rushed upon you,” added Peppers.
By this time Oscar Chester appeared to have recovered from the heavy blows of his brother pilot. He and Will Orwell walked up the street towards the town. The excitement was all over, and the other pupils scattered. Peppers followed Chester. Dory was doubtful what to do. At first he thought of going on board of the Sylph, and reporting the battle to his uncle.
After a little consideration, and some talk with Bolingbroke about it, he decided not to do so. He was ready to answer to any charge that might be brought against him, and it would be time enough to defend himself when he was accused. He called at the Witherill House, had a chat with the landlord and the clerk, and then returned to the wharf. By this time most of the boys had seen all they wanted to of the town, and were ready to go on board. Captain Gildrock hadcome on shore, and had just gone on board with the two Plattsburgh boys who were to join the school.
Bates was in charge of the boats; and, as soon as the crew of one of them appeared, he sent one load on board. The principal was instructing the two new hands, who had already put on the uniform. One was a steward, and the other belonged to the port watch.
At a little after three o’clock the other boat came off, and the students rushed up the accommodation steps as though they enjoyed the steamer and the lake more than the town. George Duane, the new steward, was handed over to Bob Swanton, after a proper introduction; and they retired to the forward cabin.
“Have all hands come on board?” asked Captain Gildrock.
The boys looked about them, as though they were unable to answer the question.
“You don’t know: well, we can soon ascertain by calling the roll,” added the principal, as he took the list of students from his pocket. “Mr. Glovering.”
“Here sir,” replied the first officer in the midstof the laughter of the boys when they heard the handle applied to his name.
“Mr. Orwell.”
“Here, sir.”
“Mr. Dornwood.”
“Here, sir.”
“Mr. Chester.”
There was no response to this name, and it was repeated. There was no answer.
“Is the second pilot on board?” asked Captain Gildrock; and Dory wondered if he knew any thing about the second battle of Plattsburgh.
The first and second officers looked about the deck and into the cabins for the missing pilot, but he could not be found. A more thorough search was made by all hands, and it was soon evident that “Mr. Chester” was not on board. The captain finished the call of the roll, and made no remark in regard to the disappearance of the second pilot. He directed the first officer to get up the anchor.
It looked as though Oscar Chester had absconded, notwithstanding his good conduct during the forenoon. Possibly some of the boys, especially Will Orwell, knew something aboutthe matter; but they did not volunteer to give any information, and the principal did not ask for any. He said nothing at all, in fact, about the missing student. The captain did not appear to be in the least degree disturbed by the absence of the refractory pupil.
Captain Gildrock looked on while the crew walked around the capstan. The officers had learned their lesson well; and, for a first trial, the operation of getting up the anchor was handsomely done.
The first pilot was at his post; and, as soon as “anchor aweigh” was reported to him, he rang the gong. Mr. Jepson stood on deck, near the door of the engine-room, having stationed his first assistant at the machine. He opened the valve slowly, and the thumping of the screw was immediately heard.
Captain Gildrock had gone to the hurricane deck, where he could see all that was done in the pilot-house and on the forecastle. He cast occasional glances at the wharf, and he directed Dory to run in that direction. Then he called the first officer, and told him to get ready to make a landing.
Dory ran the Sylph up to the wharf, where she was secured by the enthusiastic crew. The portion of the bulwark at the starboard gangway was removed, and the plank run out. While Mr. Glovering was wondering who was going on shore, Oscar Chester stepped out of the building on the wharf, and walked on board as coolly as though nothing had happened to disturb his equanimity.
“Haul in the plank!” called the captain. “Cast off, Dory.”
The pilot on duty blew a sharp whistle, which was the signal to cast off the fasts; and the officers below attended to this duty. The Sylph backed out from the wharf, and then went ahead, the engine being wholly managed by Corny Minkfield. Oscar Chester went directly to the hurricane deck, and was about to enter the pilot-house, when he was confronted by Captain Gildrock.
“You are late, Mr. Chester,” said the principal.
“I came on board against my will, sir. In fact, I was brought down to the wharf,” replied Oscar.
“Indeed? Who brought you to the wharf?” asked the captain with a half-suppressed chuckle.
“I wasn’t introduced to him, but he said he was a constable.”
“You ought to have been introduced to him,” laughed the captain. “I can’t go through the ceremony now, because the constable is not here; but his name is Peppers. Dory knows him, and he will introduce you if I don’t happen to be present when you meet again. Am I to understand from what you say that you did not intend to return to the steamer?”
“I did not intend to return: on the contrary, I meant to run away; for I suppose that is what you would call it,” replied Oscar.
“If I remember rightly, you promised this morning to behave as well as you knew how, if I released you from the brig,” added the captain.
“I meant what I said at the time, and intended to keep my promise; but something happened on shore that prevented me from doing so,” replied Oscar rather sheepishly for him.
“What is the matter with your face, Mr. Chester? Your nose is swelled, and you have a mouse under each eye. I should say that both of your eyes would be in mourning for the next week,” added Captain Gildrock.
“The black eyes are in consequence of somethingthat happened on shore,” answered the second pilot.
“What was that?”
“Excuse me, sir: if you will ask Dory, he can tell the story better than I can,” replied Oscar, glancing at the pilot at the wheel.
This conversation took place at the door of the pilot-house, and Dory could not help hearing all that was said; and if he looked behind him he could see the parties.
“I prefer that you should tell your own story,” added the principal rather sternly. “My business just now is with you and not with Dory.”
“To make a short story of it, sir, I attempted to thrash Dory, and I got thrashed myself,” answered the culprit.
“Served you right!” exclaimed the captain. “Have you settled the matter finally?”
“It seems to have settled itself, sir. I had no doubt I could whip Dory as easily as I could turn my hand. I never met one of these proper fellows before that I could not whip, and without the least difficulty. I am satisfied now that he can whip me every time, and that settles the matter.”
“I should say that you judge yourself and Dory by a very mean and cowardly standard. But if you are satisfied, nobody else need complain this time. Return to your duty, Mr. Chester.”
Oscar went to the wheel, and did not seem to have any delicacy about meeting Dory.