Orders to weigh anchor were given, and the two vessels stood out of the port of Flushing into the broad river. At Paul's invitation, Dr. Winstock came on board for the passage up the river. Mr. Hamblin still remained a guest of the ship, and the surgeon volunteered to take his place, though he acknowledged that his Greek roots were little better than decayed stumps in his memory.
There is nothing picturesque on the Scheldt; and it was no great hardship for the students to be compelled to attend to their lessons in the steerage half the time during the trip. The country is very low—some of it below the level of the sea; and there was little to be seen on shore, though the students on deck found enough to interest them.
Mr. Hamblin was the only unhappy person in the squadron, even the Knights of the Red Cross finding enough in this new and strange land to occupy their time without plotting mischief. The learned gentleman did not like the way in which the principal appeared to be "sustaining" him. Mr. Lowington had called the crew together, and told them what the Josephines had done, praising them in what seemed to the professor to be the most extravagant language. He did not like it: it was hardly less than an insult to commend the student against whom he had preferred charges of disobedience and insubordination.
He was vexed that no notice was taken of his complaints—that the matter had been deferred a single hour. In his opinion, Captain Kendall should have been promptly suspended. The moral effect of such a course would have been grand. Mr. Hamblin had spoken; and he felt that he had spoken. If he was not sustained, he could not return to the Josephine. He had spoken; and it was the principal's place to speak next.
Mr. Lowington did not speak. He was busy all the morning; and when the vessels sailed, not a word had been said in allusion to the topic which, in Mr. Hamblin's estimation, overshadowed all others. If the principal did not think of it all the time, he ought to do so; for the academic branch of the institution would be a failure if discipline was not enforced. The ship stood on her way before the fresh westerly breeze, and still Mr. Lowington did not mention the matter. The professor waited till he felt he was utterly ignored, and was sacrificing his dignity every moment that he permitted the question to remain unsettled.
"Mr. Lowington," said he at last, with a mighty effort,—for it was the principal's duty to speak first,—"I made a complaint to you yesterday. Thus far no notice whatever seems to have been taken of it."
"Perhaps the longer we wait the easier it will be to settle the question," replied Mr. Lowington, pleasantly, though he dreaded the discussion that must ensue.
"If I am not to be sustained in the discharge of my duties, it is useless for me to attempt to perform them to your satisfaction or my own."
"You shall be sustained in the discharge of your duties, Mr. Hamblin. But we will discuss this matter in the cabin, if you please," added the principal, as he led the way below.
"Unless an instructor is sustained, of course he can do nothing," said the professor, as he seated himself in the cabin.