"I would contrive some way to spill him into the drink," chuckled the ever-willing conspirator.
Mr. Hamblin was then cool and self-possessed, and he did not venture out upon the treacherous spar, and the entangling rigging, so that the wretch on the cap had no opportunity to give him a second bath in the dirty Scheldt. The learned gentleman was looking for the site of the Duke of Parma's Bridge, but he couldn't find it, and presently retired. He was not much interested in the Spanish operations in Flanders, though he felt it his duty to see a spot so noted in history—it was so effective, before a class of students, to be able to say he had seen the place alluded to in the text-book. He was, in fact, more concerned to know what Mr. Lowington's decision was, and he was waiting impatiently for an interview with him.
"The old hunks is too mean for the Josephines, and he has been quartered upon us!" exclaimed Wilton, as the professor descended to the main deck. "The fellows in the consort say he is as grouty as a mud turtle, and as crabbed as an owl at noonday. He snubs every one that makes a blunder, and rips at the class half the time."
"They say Lowington don't like him much better than the fellows do," added Perth.
It would be difficult to explain how any of the students had reached this conclusion; but it is certain that boys understand their guardians and instructors much better than the latter generally suppose.
"Perth, I think we might as well have our liberty stopped for serving out Old Crabs, as for anything else," suggested Wilton.
"I'm willing; the Knights will do that job handsomely, you may bet your life."
"But we musn't get caught too soon."
"We work in the dark, and we can do the thing as well as the Josephines did."
"Let's study up something at once, and put him through a course of sprouts. I don't believe in tolerating a professor who was too mean for the Josephine," replied Wilton, shaking his head, as though a personal indignity had been put upon him.