"The offence which that boy committed was against me personally. As he explained the case to me, and made a very humble apology, I was willing to forgive him. I intimated to the officer of the deck that he need not report the matter to the captain; but it was reported to the captain, and when I went on deck, after breakfast, I found the students had been assembled. Mr. Kendall addressed them, with which I had no fault to find. But you can judge of my astonishment when he called up McDougal, and ordered a boat to convey him on board of the ship, thus subjecting him to the severest punishment known to the students of the Josephine.
"I deemed it my duty to interfere, which I did in the most civil manner. I respectfully protested against the action of the captain. I say I deemed it my duty to interfere."
Mr. Hamblin paused, and looked at the principal. He wished him to say that he also deemed it his duty to interfere; but Mr. Lowington did not say that, or anything else, and waited till the professor was ready to proceed.
"I remonstrated with Mr, Kendall, and he saw fit to disregard my protest. I demanded that his order should be rescinded; but he was haughty and impudent in his manner. He told me that the boy should be sent to the ship. He appeared to be utterly wanting in judgment, though, up to this time, I had remonstrated only in the mildest terms. He informed me, in the most offensive manner, that he was the captain of the vessel."
At this point Mr. Lowington bit his lips, to repress a smile which was involuntarily manifesting itself on his face.
"Finally, sir, he sent for the boatswain and carpenter, and threatened to have me conveyed to the ship in irons. It was not enough to say he would send me to the ship, but he would send me in irons! Did ever a boy speak to a man like that before? In college, academy, and school, I have always been master; but here I find myself subject to the will of a stripling of sixteen or seventeen!"
Mr. Hamblin finished his narrative, set his teeth tight together, and threw himself back in his seat to await the decision of the principal.
"Captain Kendall, I will hear your version of this affair," said Mr. Lowington, mildly.
The professor made a movement as if to spring to his feet. The proceedings seemed to be very irregular. He wanted the decision made upon his statement; and it appeared like an insult to him to ask a student for his version of the affair after the instructor had spoken.
"When I was informed that McDougal had directed the hose-pipe at Mr. Hamblin," said Paul, "I decided to make an example of him; for I had a hint that the students intended to annoy the senior professor, and this was the third time something had happened to him. I was satisfied that the act was done on purpose, though I could not prove it."