"No!" exclaimed Tremere, very decidedly. "When the boatswain pipes, I shall go on deck, and do my duty as long as I have two legs to stand on, and two hands to work with."
"So shall I," added Willis. "I don't believe half the stories that have been told through the ship. In my opinion, if any of the fellows don't go down the Rhine this year, it will be because they are rebels or runaways. I shall take my station when the boatswain pipes, if I am the only fellow on board that does so."
"If you haven't spunk enough to stand up for your rights, you deserve to lose them," replied Raymond, disgusted with the answers of those high-toned students.
"My rights! Humph! I value them too highly to throw them away by any such stupid conduct as you suggest," answered Willis.
Lindsley, thinking that Tremere and Willis did not understand their plan, volunteered to explain that they did not intend to use any violent measures; that they meant to be entirely respectful to the officers and to the faculty.
"Disobedience is disobedience, whether you are respectful or disrespectful; whether you say 'no' squarely, or 'excuse me;' only the former is less cowardly than the latter," said Tremere, in reply. "As I understand the matter, you are getting up a row, asking fellows to write to their fathers to take them away from the ship."
"All hands, up anchor, ahoy!" shouted the boatswain, at the main hatch.
Raymond returned to the mess-room, while the two incorruptible fellows hastened to their stations on deck.
"Now we are in for it!" said Lindsley.
"Let us stick to our text," added Raymond, fearful that some of the party would back out as the decisive moment had come.