"So are you!"
"I couldn't do any thing all alone. The fellows caved in, and did not take any more notice of me than they did of any other fellow," growled Tom, who evidently believed that he was born to be a great leader among men.
"It was no use for a fellow to bite his own nose off," Nim explained, as he and the others had done twenty times before to Tom, who had always been ready to remove his nasal appendage in the manner indicated. "If you want to do any thing that is reasonable, just let the fellows know, and you will see where they stand. They have not joined Captain Gildrock's church any more than you have."
"I have had a pretty good time since I was raked into the Industrial School, and I have not thought much about studying up any thing in the way of fun; but it is getting to be a little heavy on my hands to be tied to a bell-rope, and keep step with some little lamb like Dory Dornwood."
The conversation was interrupted just as Tom Topover had delivered himself of these sentiments. The first officer had discovered that all the hands stationed at the jib-sheets were seasick, which was a very humiliating state of things to the captain, and some changes had become necessary in the station-bills. Four hands were transferred from the fore and main sheets to the jib.
The Lily had the wind on the beam; and there was nothing to be done, till the order, "Ready, about!" was given off Point Au Sable. The schooner came about in the liveliest manner, and stood for Burlington on the opposite tack. She was soon inside of the breakwater, and came to anchor there. The other quarter-boat was sent to the shore; and, after waiting a short time, it brought off the principal.
The deck had the appearance of a hospital-ship when the principal came on board, and he directed the captain to beat up Shelburne Bay. Under the lee of the point, where the water was smooth, the Lily came to anchor, to give the seasick ones a rest. The cook and stewards had been at work getting dinner, and at twelve it was served in the cabin. But not many more than half of the students wanted any dinner, and some of them said they did not want any more sailing on the lake.
The dinner was creditable to the cook, and was heartily enjoyed under the novel circumstances. The seasick ones rapidly recovered, and soon wanted something to eat. But the sea continued heavy all the rest of the day, and the principal changed his plan; for he had intended to make a trip to Isle La Motte, and return after dark, in order to give the students a practical exemplification of the use of the signal-lights, as well as of navigating by course and compass. It happened that this had to be deferred till the following week; for an event occurred at the school, a little later, which caused the principal some trouble.
The Lily returned to her moorings early in the afternoon.