By noon they had all slept off the effects of the wine. O’Hara had been thinking all the morning about the case of discipline on hand, and confidently expected trouble as soon as the time came to change the watch. He had made up his mind what to do; but his action must be governed by the circumstances. Only three of the students from the Josephine had thus far been insubordinate; but all the rest might join them. But he apprehended no difficulty, for the officers and seamen from the Tritonia were enough to handle the steamer.
Gregory had been let out of the state-room, completely sobered, at half-past eleven, so that he could dine with his watch in season to take the deck at noon. He was even more cross and ugly than he had been in the morning.
“All the starboard watch on deck!” shouted the acting boatswain, piping the call.
Gregory did not move from the seat he had taken at the cabin-door. O’Hara trembled as he saw that the first officer was intent upon making trouble.
“The deck is yours, Mr. Gregory,” said Raymond, tendering to him the trumpet, in the usual form.
“I don’t want it,” growled the first officer. “I shall not do duty any more.”
Raymond reported the answer to the captain.
“Call all hands!” said O’Hara promptly.
The call was immediately piped. As on board the vessels of the squadron, every officer and seaman had his station, and was required to repair to it instantly, whether the call came by day or night.
Every one went to his station except the three who had refused to attend the recitations. Possibly the conspirators could have induced others of their shipmates in the Josephine to join them; but they had had no time to work the case up.