"I am very sorry indeed for your misfortune, sir," said Paul, politely, when he met Mr. Hamblin on deck.
"Perhaps you are!" replied he, rushing down the cabin stairs, bestowing hardly a glance upon the sympathizing commander.
He went to his state-room, and made an entire change of his clothing. The weather was warm, and he suffered no serious consequences.
"You are a very unfortunate person, Mr. Hamblin," said his associate instructor, when the savant, clean and dry, emerged from the state-room.
"It was done on purpose, Mr. Stoute," replied he, solemnly, with compressed lips.
"O, no! It couldn't be!" protested the fat professor. "You are simply unfortunate. First, a coil of rope falls on your head, and then you fall overboard. You should be careful."
"Has that student been punished for throwing the rope upon me?"
"No, sir. I stood by during the investigation at the mainmast. It could not be proved that the act was done on purpose; and, for my part, I did not believe it was."
"I am very confident it was. I can read the expression on the faces of the boys; and I am certain there is a conspiracy among them to knock out my brains or drown me in the river."
"Boys will be boys, and they are very prone to look at the ludicrous aspect of an accident," added the stout professor. "I should not give a serious interpretation to any little signs of mirth I happened to see."