"Here are the names of all the fellows who are to take part in the operation," said Perth, flourishing the paper. "The fellows with a cross against their names are to throw the old fellow down; those with a dash are to man the reef-pendants; those with a wave line are to make fast to him—"
That was all. Mr. Hamblin made a plunge into the midst of the young rascals, and snatched the paper from the hands of the leader. The conspirators sprung to their feet, and nothing could exceed the consternation depicted upon their faces. They stood aghast, horrified, confounded.
"It was only a joke, sir," stammered Perth, as the professor, with trembling hands and quivering lips, gazed at the paper, reading the names, and noting the signs against them.
"You villains, you!" gasped he. "Keelhaul me—will you?"
"It was only in fun, sir. We didn't mean to do it, sir," added Wilton.
Mr. Hamblin did not wait to hear any more. He rushed aft, rushed down the companion-way, rushed into the main cabin, where the principal was just dismissing Paul.
"They are going to keelhaul me, next, Mr. Lowington!" exclaimed the learned gentleman, savagely.
"Pray, what is the trouble, Mr. Hamblin?" asked the principal, mildly.
The professor explained, exhibiting the list of names in evidence of his assertion. Mr. Lowington was sceptical. It was not possible that the boys could entertain such a monstrous proposition as that of keelhauling a learned professor.
"But I heard the plan myself, sir," persisted Mr. Hamblin. "I don't know what keelhauling is, but that is the expression the scoundrels used."