"He had the principal behind him. Besides, some of the fellows will get seasick, and then who will handle this big schooner. I move you put it to vote, whether we go in the Goldwing or the Lily," continued Bent, suddenly assuming a pleasant tone.
"I don't care how you vote, or what you want to do. I am going in the Lily, and any fellow who don't want to go with me can go on shore, and go to bed," said Tom decisively.
That settled the question. Tom did not hear the remarks the principal made to the captain of the schooner, in regard to taking risks; but he determined to run no needless risk on the present occasion. Though everybody appeared to be asleep at Beech Hill, Captain Gildrock might be wandering about the estate; for he was a man who was very likely to turn up unexpectedly when any mischief was in progress. Tom waited till he heard the town-clocks strike eleven. It was safe then, in his opinion, to proceed.
The leader of the Topovers had certainly learned a great deal since he had been a pupil at Beech Hill. The principal, to encourage him when he appeared to be doing well, had humored him a good deal. He had steered the steamer and the Goldwing, and could handle a sailboat about as well as the average boy who did not pretend to be a boatman.
The moorings of the Lily were so near the dormitory and the stables, that Tom was afraid to hoist the fore and main sail of the schooner, lest any noise should be heard on shore. The old quartermaster had a room over the carriage-house, and he slept with one eye open. The moorings were cast off into the skiff, and the Lily was allowed to float on the current. It took her a long time to get to the outlet. With all his boasted skill, Tom was afraid to sail the schooner through the outlet in the darkness.
He rigged a pair of large oars in the fore-rigging, and put his crew on the handles. They obtained headway enough to give her steerage-way, and the pilot had no trouble in keeping the Lily in the middle of the stream. With no little difficulty, and a great deal of jaw, the sails were set, and the schooner stood down the river.
The wind was light; but in half an hour she passed into the lake, and Tom headed her to the north.
CHAPTER XXVII.
A SLEEPY SHIP'S COMPANY.
The wind was from the west, and there was but little of it. Tom knew a great deal more about sailing a boat than when he tried to handle the Goldwing; and he trimmed the sails on the port-tack so that the schooner went along very well, though she was making not more than two knots an hour. It was very dark, and the gloom of the night was rather trying to the new skipper. But he could see the light on Split Rock Point, and steered for that.