Wilton and his companions were dissatisfied, and disposed to be rash. They felt that they had been harshly and cruelly denied a reasonable privilege. The subject of celebrating the Fourth had been under consideration for a long time among the boys, and it had been generally believed that all hands would be permitted to go on shore, with perfect liberty, on that day; and many of them had already arranged their plans for the occasion.
"Well, what do you think now?" said Wilton, as Mr. Lowington walked forward.
"I think it's too bad," replied Adler. "It is meaner than dirt to make us stay on board on the Fourth of July."
"But I don't see how we are going to help ourselves," added Monroe, looking at Wilton for a solution of this difficult problem.
"I do."
"How?"
"Keep still; don't say a word here," continued Wilton. "Scatter, now, and I will be on the top-gallant forecastle in a few minutes."
Wilton strolled about the deck a short time, and then went to the place of meeting, where he was soon joined by the rest of the discontented pupils.
"How many fellows can we muster?" asked he, when his associates in mischief had again gathered around him.
"I know at least a dozen, who are up to anything," replied Monroe; "but some of them are in the other watch. What are you going to do?"