"I shall ask you for a boat off Burlington when you get under the lee of the breakwater, for I have to go to the bank," said the principal to the captain. "I shall be busy there for two hours; and, while I am on shore, you may run over to Au Sable Point, which is about far enough to use up the time. Do you think you can get along without me?"
"I should be glad to have you with us all the time; but I am sure I can handle the schooner, for I have navigated the Sea Sprite for a whole day in the absence of the sailing-master," replied Captain Randolph confidently.
"The wind is blowing rather fresh, but the Lily proves herself to be an able sea-boat. The only thing to fear is, that some of your crew may give you trouble."
"I don't think they will be likely to do so on the first trip; but, if any do, I think we can manage them, for I am sure all the old scholars will stick by me."
"I don't believe you will have any trouble, and you will be likely to be back in less than two hours. I will get through as soon as I can."
There was nothing about the crew that indicated a mutiny, or even any trouble; for all of them obeyed orders with the nicest care. It was a new thing; and the boys were not likely to make trouble, if ever, until the schooner had become an old story. Hardly any of them had ever seen any livelier sailing on the lake, and half of them had hardly ever been in a sailboat. Half a dozen of them were too seasick to hold up their heads. Among them was Pell Sankland, and even Kidd Digfield was able only with a struggle to keep his place in the ranks.
The government charts of Lake Champlain have a scale on each sheet, in statute miles, nautical miles, and kilometres. The principal had taken off the distance to the point in Burlington Harbor, from the scale of sea-miles. In exactly thirty minutes from the departure from Cannon's Point, the Lily was abreast of the mark; and the distance was six knots. The yacht had therefore made her twelve knots an hour; and the fact was announced to the ship's company, whereat they gave three rousing cheers.
As he had been directed to do, the captain ran the schooner behind the breakwater. The order had been given for the port-quarter boat to be made ready, and her crew of five were called away. The hands had learned how to lower a boat, on board of the steamer; and the work was done properly, and to the admiration of a crowd of spectators on the steamboat wharf, who had run to see the new craft.
The principal was landed, and the boat returned. The captain ordered it to be hoisted up at the davits; though Tom Topover, who was one of the crew, grumbled. It would have to be lowered again in a few minutes, and what was the use of hoisting it up, he reasoned.
But he was hardly on deck before the order was given to get up the anchor; and the Lily was soon standing to the northward, inside of the breakwater. At the lower beacon, she hauled in her sheets, and a course to the north-north-west was given out. The sea was breaking over the top of the breakwater, and outside of it the lake was decidedly rough. At this point the lake is twelve miles wide, so that there was room enough to stir up big waves for an inland sheet of water.