by Oliver Optic
CHAPTER III.
THE ENSIGN AT THE PEAK.
The students on board of the Young America were between the ages offourteen and seventeen. By the regulations, no boy under fourteen orover seventeen could be admitted, and they averaged about fifteen. Theyhad, therefore, reached the years of discretion. Among them were a greatmany who were disposed to be wild boys, and not a few who had found itdifficult to remain in similar institutions on shore. They were notcriminal or depraved, but simply wild; with a tendency to break throughreasonable restraint; with a taste for mad pranks, and a contempt forauthority.
Of this class, who were a trial and a torment to the teachers of theordinary high schools and academies, the larger proportion would havescorned to steal, or commit any wanton outrage upon the persons orproperty of others. There were many high-minded, noble-hearted youngmen, who could not tamely submit to authority, and were prone toinsubordination, and who only needed the right kind of discipline tomake them earnest and faithful men and useful citizens. There were few,if any, dunces or blockheads among them, for a life on shipboard had noattractions for such boys. They were, almost without an exception,wide-awake, bold, daring fellows, who had a taste for stirring events;fellows who wanted to climb the Rocky Mountains, visit the North Pole,and explore the Mammoth Cave. They were full of fun and mischief and itwould have been easy at any time to get up a party among them to marchthe principal's cow into the parlor of the Academy; to climb to thebelfry on a winter's night, and fill the inverted bell with water, whereit would freeze solid before morning; or to convey the occupants of thehen-coop to the recitation room.
It was Mr. Lowington's task to repress the mischief in these boys, tokeep them occupied with work and play, and to develop their moral andmental capacities. He had doubtless taken a heavy load upon himself buthe felt that he was to labor for his race and his country. At least onehalf of his students were too wild to attend the ordinary public orprivate schools, or to profit by them if admitted. With such material,his work could not be a sinecure. But he had a taste for it, and he gavehis whole heart and soul to the performance of his duties.
When the students were gathered on board the Young America, they weremostly strangers to him, though he had communicated personally or byletter with the parents of all of them. He had read and listened to thestories of their pranks and peccadilloes, but when they came together,he hardly knew one from another, and was not prejudiced against anyindividual by the terrible accounts of him related by parents,guardians, or teachers. He purposed to give them the opportunity toselect their own officers at first, in order to win a more cheerfulobedience from them, and because the students knew each other betterthan he knew them.
After the announcement of the principal that the voting would commenceon the following morning, nothing else was talked of on board. Thequalifications of various members of the school were discussed by groupsof excited voters; and we must do them the justice to say that most ofthem considered the matter unselfishly and with a single eye to thepublic good. Perhaps it is a little remarkable that not a singlestudent, outside of the little group of wire-pullers that gathered inthe steerage, thought of Shuffles for the position of captain; and the"log-rollers" were likely to have up-hill work in electing themselves tothe six principal offices. But they went to work, and labored verydiligently till bed-time in carrying their point.
While none thought of Shuffles in connection with the highest position,many mentioned the dignified young gentleman, who had made one voyage upthe Mediterranean--Richard Carnes. He had been on board a fortnight, andhad won and retained the respect of all his companions.
Before the little band of wire-pullers in the steerage had made up the"slate" to suit their minds, the crowd on deck had agreed upon RichardCarnes for captain, and were busy in discussing the qualifications ofothers for the subordinate offices, when the log-rollers separated, andwent to work upon their mission.
"How are you going to vote for captain, Kendall?" said Wilton, stoppingup to the young gentleman who had proposed so many questions to theprincipal, and who had been so honest in confessing his ignorance ofnautical matters.
"For Carnes, of course."
"Humph! I wouldn't vote for him," sneered the wire-puller.
"Why not?"
"He's too stiff; he'll put on airs, and be a tyrant over us."
"No, he won't."
"You see if he don't. I say, Kendall, are you up for any office?"continued Wilton, with a certain appearance of slyness which thestraightforward young gentleman did not exactly like.
"Am I?"
"Yes, you. Wouldn't you like a room in the after cabin?"
"Perhaps I would," answered Kendall, thoughtfully; and the place wascertainly very inviting to him.
"They say the after cabin is a perfect little palace."
"I dare say it is."
"You can just as well go in there, if you like."
"I don't see how that can be. I don't think I'm fit to be an officer. Iam from Cincinnati, and I never saw a ship till I came east three weeksago."
"None of the fellows know anything about a ship. All of us will have tolearn."
"Carnes knows all about one."
"No, he don't. He made one voyage, and knows just enough to talk salt.He's a good fellow enough, but he isn't fit for captain. If you want tobe an officer, Kendall, and have a berth in the after cabin, you can,just as well as not."
"Well, I would like such a place; I can't deny it; but I don't think thefellows will go for me."
"They will, if you say so."
"If I say so! I'm not going to ask them to vote for me," repliedKendall, warmly; for he was no politician and had a vein of modesty inhis composition.
"You needn't say a word to any one. If you will go for our ticket, itwill be all right. Half a dozen of us have talked this matter over, andwe have concluded that you would be the best fellow for second master."
"Have you?" asked Kendall, who could not help being gratified to learnthat even half a dozen of his companions had thought him worthy to be anofficer of so high a rank as second master. "I'm very much obliged toyou."
"All you have to do, is to go for our ticket."
"What do you mean by your ticket?" demanded Kendall, who was ratherconfused by the technical terms of the wire-puller.
Wilton explained that his little party had selected a candidate for eachof the offices; and if all the fellows agreed to it, there would befifteen votes for their ticket, to begin with.
"Well, what is your ticket?" demanded Kendall, impatiently. "If they areall good fellows, I will go for them. Of course you mean to vote forCarnes for captain."
"Not exactly," replied Wilton, with evident disgust. "We shall put up abetter fellow than he is for captain."
"Why, all the boys are going for him," added Kendall, astonished to findthere were any who did not believe in Carnes.
"No, they are not."
"I thought they were."
"He will not be elected, and you need not throw your vote away upon him,because, if you don't want a place in the after cabin, there are plentyof fellows who do," added the wire-puller, with apparent indifference.
"But I do want it."
"Then all you have to do, is to go for our ticket."
"I think Carnes will make the best captain."
"Very well; if you think so, you have a right to your own opinion. Ihaven't any mortgage on it."
"Whom are you going to run for captain?"
"It's no use to talk any more about it, if you are going for Carnes,"replied Wilton, as he turned to move away.
The wire-puller was playing a part. Paul Kendall was a noble littlefellow, and was already a great favorite on board, not only with theboys, but with the principal and the professors. Wilton knew that he hada great deal of influence, and it was important to secure him for theirticket. If he could tell others that Kendall was going for their men, itwould induce many to join their party. The "favorite," though he was anhonest, noble-hearted f
ellow, was still human, and a berth in the aftercabin was a strong temptation to him.
"I'm not going to say I'll vote for a fellow till I know who he is,"added Kendall. "If he's the right person, perhaps I'll go for him,though I wanted to see Carnes captain."
"Carnes can't be elected, I tell you. We are going against him."
"Whom are you going for, then?"
"For Bob Shuffles," replied Wilton, desperately, for he did not wish tomention his candidate till he had won the assent of his companion.
"Shuffles!" exclaimed Kendall, with something like horror mingled withhis astonishment; "I shall not go for him, anyhow."
"Why not?"
"I don't think he is the right person for the place."
"I do; he's a first-rate fellow--none of your milk and water chaps, thatswallow camels and strain at gnats."
Kendall had some decided objections to Shuffles, and he positivelyrefused to vote for him, even to obtain the coveted position in theafter cabin. Wilton argued the matter with much skill and cunning; buthis logic and his eloquence were both wasted.
"Well, if you won't go for Shuffles, you must be content with your placein the steerage," added Wilton.
"I won't go for him, any how," said Kendall, firmly.
"You are making a mistake."
"I don't think so. I'm bound to vote for the best fellow, and I'm sureShuffles isn't the right one."
"See here, Kendall; don't say a word to the others that I spoke to youof this little matter. I thought you would go with us, or I shouldn'thave said anything to you."
"Not say anything? Why not?"
"Because it will be better to keep still."
"I shall not do anything of the kind. You have got up a plan to defeatCarnes, by giving the offices to fellows who will vote against him. Youwish me to keep still, while you carry out your plan. I can see througha cord of wood, when there's a hole big enough."
"I mentioned this thing to you in confidence."
"You didn't say a word about confidence; and I didn't promise to keepstill. I won't keep still. I think it is a mean trick to buy up thevotes of the fellows, and I'll blow the whole thing higher than a kite."
"You'll catch it if you do," said Wilton, in a threatening tone.
"Catch what?" demanded Kendall, with a very pretty exhibition ofdignity.
"Bob Shuffles will give it to you."
"Give what to me?"
"Give you the biggest licking you ever had in your life," answeredWilton, angrily, "You are so stupid, you can't understand anything."
"I think I can understand the licking, when if comes. That's a game thattwo can play at."
"What do you mean, you little bantam? Do you think you can whip BobShuffles?"
"I had no idea of whipping him; and I have no idea of his whipping me,either."
Kendall was spunky. Wilton could make nothing of him by threats orpersuasion; and he turned away from him to seek a more promising fieldof labor. Kendall took off his cap, scratched his head as he reflectedupon the event which had just transpired, and made up his mind that itwas an insult to an independent elector to attempt to buy his vote withthe paltry consideration of an office. He was sorry that he had beeneven tempted by the proposition of the wire-pullers, and thankful thathis sense of honor and decency had prompted him to decline it when askedto vote for an improper person. True to his promise, he made all hasteto expose the conspiracy, as he regarded it, against Carnes.
When the students turned in that night, the wire-pullers had found asufficient number of candidates for all the offices on the terms setforth in the compact, each of whom had promised to use his influence forthe entire ticket. Shuffles had made a very pretty calculation, to theeffect that each of the fifteen candidates could influence at least twovotes besides his own for the ticket, which would inevitably elect it.But during all this time Paul Kendall had been laboring like a Trojanfor Carnes, and had induced his friends to do the same.
At nine-o'clock in the morning, the polls were opened for the electionof officers. A box was placed on the fife-rail, at the mainmast, inwhich the ballots were deposited, under the inspection of ProfessorMapps.
"Have all the students voted?" called the professor, when the votingwas suspended. "If so, I declare the poll closed."
It was a moment of intense excitement on the spar deck of the YoungAmerica when Mr. Lowington stood up on the hatch to announce the vote.There was a pleasant smile upon his face, which indicated that it wouldnot be his painful duty to veto the choice of the independent electors.
"Young gentlemen, your balloting appears to have been conducted withentire fairness," said he, "and I will proceed to declare the result.Whole number of votes, eighty-seven; necessary to a choice, forty-four.Paul Kendall has five; Charles Gordon has seven; Robert Shuffles hastwenty-two; Richard Carnes has fifty-three, and is elected captain ofthe Young America for the succeeding three months."
The party who had worked and voted for Carnes applauded the result mostlustily, and gave three cheers for the new captain, which, on thisexciting occasion, were not objected to by the principal. Shuffles's jawdropped down, and his lip quivered with angry emotion.
"That little whipper-snapper of a Kendall did that," said Wilton, in alow tone, to the disappointed candidate. "I was afraid of this when Isaw him blowing about the deck."
"I'll settle it with him when I get a good chance," growled Shuffles, ashe went to the rail and looked over into the water, in order to concealhis disappointment and chagrin.
"Young gentlemen will bring in their votes for first lieutenant," saidProfessor Mapps, as he placed the box on the fife-rail again.
The boys marched around the mainmast, and deposited their ballots forthe second officer, as they had done before. The friends of Shufflesrallied again, hoping that something might yet come of the compact theyhad made with him, and gave him their votes for first lieutenant,though, in his chagrin, he declared that he would not accept theposition. Fortunately for him, he was not called upon to do so; forCharles Gordon was elected by a very large majority. As the electionproceeded, it became evident that there was no office for Shuffles. PaulKendall was elected fourth lieutenant and the announcement of the votewas greeted by even more hearty applause than had been bestowed upon thecaptain.
At the conclusion of the balloting, Shuffles found that not a single oneof the wire-pullers, or of the candidates nominated by them, had beenelected. The attempt to bribe the independent voters, by giving themoffice, had been a signal failure; and it is to be hoped that YoungAmerica, when fully developed, will stick to his principles.
"Captain Richard Carnes," said Mr. Lowington, as he stepped upon thehatch, after the voting had been concluded.
The young gentleman thus addressed came forward, blushing beneath thehonors which had been bestowed upon him. The principal took his hand.
"Captain Carnes, I congratulate you upon your election to the highestoffice in the gift of your companions; and I congratulate yourfellow-students also upon having so good a young man to handle the ship.You have been modest, and they have been wise. I congratulate you both.Young gentlemen, I am satisfied that your captain will be just,courteous, and gentlemanly, in his relations with you; and I hope youwill yield a willing and cheerful obedience to his orders, and to thoseof all your superiors. Let me say that this business is not a farce; itis not mere boys' play; for as soon as the officers and crew are fullytrained and instructed, all ship duty will be carried on withoutassistance from me or others. When necessary, I shall advise the captainwhat to do, but I shall not do it myself; neither shall I needlesslyinterfere with the discipline of the ship.
"This is the last time an election of officers will be permitted, for itis liable to many objections, not the least of which are the bribery andcorruption by which some have attempted to obtain office."
Mr. Lowington looked at Shuffles, as though he knew all about the methodto which he had resorted to secure an election; but we are quite surethat Paul Kendall had never lispe
d a word of it to him, or to any of theinstructors.
"On the first day of July, young gentlemen, all the offices will bevacant; and they will be awarded strictly in accordance with the marksyou may obtain. There will be no veto upon the result of the merit roll.These places, therefore, are open to all. We have no aristocracy onboard. Every student in the ship is a candidate for the captaincy. Now,if the officers elect will follow me to the after cabin, I will installthem into their new positions; after which I will proceed to organizethe crew."
The door of the after cabin, which had hitherto been a mystery to allthe boys, was unlocked by the head steward, and Mr. Lowington, followedby the officers, entered. The students on deck were ordered forward, andwere not even permitted to look down the companion-way, for theprincipal intended to keep the after cabin exclusively for the officers;and no one not entitled to admission was to be allowed to cross itsthreshold. He believed that this mystery, and this rigid adherence tothe division line between officers and crew, would promote thediscipline of the ship, and enhance the value of the offices--the prizesfor good conduct, and general fidelity to duty.
"Captain Carnes, this is your state room," continued Mr. Lowington,opening the door of the room farthest forward on the starboard side. "Asthe commander of the ship you are entitled to an apartment by yourself."
"Thank you, sir," replied the captain, as he stepped into the room.
"You will find on the hooks your uniform as captain. There are threesuits, from which you will select one that fits you."
Captain Carnes entered and closed the door. If he did not feel like aking, he ought to have felt so.
Mr. Lowington then gave the next room to the first and secondlieutenants, who were to occupy it together; and they were also directedto clothe themselves in the uniforms deposited there for their use. Thethird state room was given to the third and fourth lieutenants, and thefourth to the first and second midshipmen. The forward room of the portside was assigned to the first and second masters; the next to the thirdand fourth; the third to the two pursers, and the last to the third andfourth midshipmen.
In a short time the officers came out of their rooms clothed in theiruniforms, which consisted of a blue frock coat, with brass buttons, andblue pants. The cap was of the same material, with a gold band aroundit. Thus far the uniforms were all alike; but there were distinguishinginsignia to indicate the rank of each. All the officers hadshoulder-straps, by which their positions were designated. The captainhad two anchors; the first lieutenant had one anchor, with four stars,one above, one below, and one on each side; the second lieutenant hadthe anchor with three stars--none above; the third lieutenant, one staron each side of the anchor; and the fourth lieutenant one star below theanchor. The captain also wore five narrow gold bands on each of his coatsleeves; the first lieutenant four, and so on, the fourth wearing butone band.
The shoulder-straps of the masters contained no anchor; only the stars,one for each grade, the first master having four stars; the fourth onlyone. The rank of the pursers was indicated by the outline of aparallelogram for the second, and two of the same figure, one within theother, for the first. The straps of the midshipmen contained giltnumbers, from one to four, designating their grade.
The officers presented a very elegant and dashing appearance in theirnew uniform; and if some of them did not feel a little vain, it wasbecause they were less human than boys usually are.
"What are we to do, sir?" asked Kendall of the principal, after theuniforms had been duly criticised.
"Nothing, at present."
"Nothing! Why, I feel like a counterfeit gold dollar, in this rig, whenI know no more about a ship than I do about the inside of the moon."
"You will learn in due time. You will go on deck now, young gentlemen;and remember that, as officers, you are not to be familiar with the crewwhile you are on duty."
"Can't we speak to them?" asked Kendall, who was not disposed to be soexclusive as naval discipline required him to be.
"Not while you are on duty, except when it is necessary to do so. Wewill now assign the berths in the steerage to the crew."
As the boys came on board, they had taken the berths as they pleased.Shuffles had selected a room, and invited his "cronies" to occupy thebunks it contained with him. The berths were now to be distributed bylot. Professor Mapps had provided seventy-two slips of paper, on each ofwhich he had written a number. The boys were mustered into line, anddrew out these numbers from the package. As each student drew his slip,the purser wrote down his name in a book, with the number he had drawn.
In the steerage, each berth had its own number, which was also appliedto a locker, and a seat at one of the mess tables. When the drawing wascompleted each student had his berth, his clothes locker, and his seatat meals. Many of them were extremely dissatisfied when they found thatthey had been separated from their "cronies;" but the principal wasfirm, and would not allow a single change to be made.
By this time it was twelve o'clock, and Boatswain Peaks piped all handsto muster. The ensign was hoisted, and saluted with three cheers, inwhich all hands, young and old, joined. When this ceremony was finished,the crew were piped to dinner, and the officers went to their cabin,where the steward had set the table for them for the first time. Theydined like lords, though upon the same fare as their companions in thesteerage.