"The captain's boat!" puffed the professor.
"Mr. Lowington directed me to use the first cutter for the professors," added Paul.
"Am I to understand that you again refuse me a boat?"
"No, sir; by no means," said the captain, ready to weep with vexation at these disagreeable incidents.
He turned from Mr. Hamblin, and directed the first lieutenant to pipe away the first cutters; and in a few moments the boat was ready. The fourth lieutenant was sent in charge of the cutter. The professor went over the side into the boat; and as he made no objections, the officers concluded that he did not know the difference between the gig and the first cutter. At certain stages of the tide, there is a three-mile current in the Scheldt, with strong eddies, formed by the sweep of the river. By a miscalculation of the coxswain, the cutter fell astern of the ship, and had to pull up to her, which prolonged the passage somewhat, thereby increasing the ill nature and impatience of Mr. Hamblin.
"In bows!" said the coxswain, as the boat approached the ship; and the two bowmen tossed their oars and boated them, taking position in the bow-grating, with the boat-hooks in their hands.
"Way enough!" added the coxswain; and the rest of the crew tossed their oars.
At the gangway of the ship stairs had been rigged, at the foot of which there was a platform, for the convenience of those boarding or leaving the ship by the boats. The bowmen fastened their boat-hooks upon the platform, in readiness to haul the boat alongside, so that the passenger could step out without inconvenience. But the current was strong, and some delay ensued.
"There! let me get out!" exclaimed Mr. Hamblin, rising in the boat, and walking between the oarsmen to the bow.
"Steady, sir!" said Humphreys, the officer, as he took the arm of the professor, to prevent him from falling.