"One hundred pounds, English," said Paul, who had already studied up Dutch currency. "About five hundred dollars."
"I move you, sir, that a subscription paper be opened to raise the money to repair the galiot," said Lynch.
"Second the motion," added Groesbeck.
"Young gentlemen, I think you have done all that could be expected of you," said Mr. Lowington. "I do not mean to represent to you that Captain Schimmelpennink is an object of charity, though I am informed that he has not the means of paying for these repairs. But, since you desire it, I will put the matter to vote."
The motion was carried unanimously, as the one remitting the claim for salvage had been. The principal suggested that it was proper to appoint a committee to attend to the subscriptions; and Terrill, Pelham, and Lynch were appointed to perform this duty. Nothing was said to the skipper of the galiot about this proposition; and Mr. Lowington having warmly commended the students for their generous sympathy with the unfortunate man, the crew were dismissed.
A boat was sent to the "Wel tevreeden" with the captain and his party. The subscription paper was immediately opened. Terrill took the paper to Mr. Lowington first, who headed it with sixty guilders. The principal and the students seemed to make their financial calculations in English money, on the basis of twelve guilders to the pound. Mr. Fluxion put down twenty-four guilders, and the students twelve guilders each; for no one was willing to be behind the others.
Mr. Lowington returned to the ship; and when dinner was over, most of the Josephines turned in, for there was a fearful gaping on board as soon as the excitement had subsided. Hardly any of the crew had closed their eyes during the preceding night, and all of them were very tired.
At five o'clock, the white flag containing a blue cross, which is the signal for divine service, appeared on the Young America. The service had been postponed, to enable the Josephines to obtain a little needed rest: it was never dispensed with except at sea, in very heavy weather. Though the religious exercises were made unusually impressive by Mr. Agneau, after the storm and the wreck, it must be confessed that some of the consort's company went to sleep during the hour; but they were forgiven, even by the chaplain, when their zealous labors to save life and property were considered.
For some reason of his own, Mr. Lowington invited the Dutch skipper and his family to attend the service, and a boat was sent for the party. They came on board, and were regarded with deep interest by the crew, though doubtless they were not much edified by the exercises, as they knew not a word of English.
"Captain Kendall," said the first lieutenant of the schooner, when they returned to their cabin, "I think I have money enough to build a new galiot for Captain Schumblefungus, or whatever his name is. I don't wonder that a man with such a name as that should be cast away, especially if the mate had to speak it before he let go the halyards."