"That's all a lie!" exclaimed Tom, looking as though he was shocked to hear so many falsehoods crowded into a short story.
"You say it was Ashley that first proposed to take out the parties, Topover?" added the principal.
Tom persisted that it was, and the others backed him. Captain Gildrock called Paul Bristol, and by him sent an order to Dory to get the yacht under way again. In a few minutes she was standing down Beechwater to the outlet.
CHAPTER XI.
COMPLIMENTARY TO THE PICNIC-PARTY.
The penitents had never been on board of the Sylph before; and, even in the midst of the examination which was to decide what was to be done with them for the misdemeanor of the forenoon, they enjoyed the motion of the yacht. Tom and his companions were prisoners on the forecastle; and, though nothing had been said to the penitents, they considered themselves in the same condition. They had heard of Bates, who was the ogre of the institution to bad boys; and there he was, acting as a deck-hand.
Paul Bristol attended to the stern-line, against which the steamer backed to throw her head out from the wharf. Sometimes he had served as fireman; but a man was now employed for that service, and the engineer's son was a man-of-all-work. He had learned something about the engine, so that he could attend to it for a short time; and Dory had instructed him in piloting, so that he could take the wheel when it was plain sailing.
Lily Bristol went to the pilot-house with the captain when he was ordered to get under way. She wondered where they were going, but she had taken little interest in the examination on the forecastle. Captain Dornwood told her, with a pleasant smile, that it was not customary for officers and seamen to ask questions in regard to the movements of the vessel: all they had to do was to obey the orders of their superior officers. A soldier or a sailor who asked questions before he did what he was directed to do, was good for nothing.
"But you are the captain of the steamer, Dory," said she, as the young gentleman politely ushered her into the pilot-house.
"When we have the ship's company on board, I am the captain; though even then it is only a position in name, for I have to obey the orders of the owner," replied Dory. "But, now that we are not in commission, not much attention is paid to rank; and sometimes when my uncle is at the wheel I act as deck-hand."