If the students had known of this decision, they would have remonstrated against it. As it was, they protested in their own way. On Saturday night, after the return of the students from the excursion, while the savant was promenading the deck for his needed exercise, not less than three practical jokes were played off upon him. The crew were squaring the yards, hauling taut the sheets, lifts, and braces, and putting the deck in order for Sunday. The professor was tipped over by getting entangled in a piece of rigging, a bucket of water was dashed upon his legs, and a portion of the contents of a slush-tub was poured upon him from the main-top. No one seemed to see him; the students appeared to be struck with blindness, so far as the learned gentleman was concerned. It is true that the rogues who pulled the brace, dashed the water, and upset the slush-tub, were immediately committed to the brig; but this did not seem to afford much comfort to the victim.
On Sunday morning it was necessary to commit three more; but the whole six were released in the evening, because they could not sleep in the brig. Mr. Lowington was annoyed quite as much as the professor; and when Mr. Fluxion came on board, he had a long conversation with him on the subject.
"I was a boy once, Mr. Lowington," said the vice-principal; "and I am free to say I would not have tolerated such an instructor as Mr. Hamblin. He hasn't a particle of sympathy with the students. He is haughty, stiff, and overbearing. He is imperious, fretful, snarling, and tyrannical. In a word, I don't blame the boys for disliking him."
"I am conscious that he is not the right person. In the case of Kendall, he protested against my decision, and had the impudence to tell me that I lacked judgment. I have engaged him for a year. What shall I do?" replied the principal.
"I hardly know; but we shall be in trouble as long as he is in the squadron. We must give the boys fair play, if we expect them to do their duty."
"I have kept Duncan on board the ship, and I suppose I must punish him," added Mr. Lowington. "He plotted mischief, but he has really done nothing."
"Excuse me," said Dr. Winstock, as he opened the door, but retreated when he saw that he disturbed a private interview.
"Come in, doctor; I wish to see you," replied the principal.
The surgeon was admitted to the conference, and the case stated to him.
"The pedagogue of the past is rapidly going out of fashion," said the doctor. "Our educational system is progressive, and it will no longer tolerate the teacher who is the petty tyrant he was twenty years ago. Mr. Hamblin is an old-school pedagogue. His will is law, which is all right to a certain extent. The teacher must be the judge between right and wrong; but he must be gentle and kind, and raise no false issues between his pupil and himself. Mr. Hamblin is not gentle and kind. He is capricious, wilful, and passionate."