This remark was greeted with a rousing cheer, for the boys were delighted with the discipline so far.
“I thought we were to dispense with the cheering,” said the captain with a pleasant smile.
“That was an extraordinary occasion, Captain Gildrock,” added Bob Swanton. “We never heard of a schoolmaster before who believed it possible for anybody to be right but himself.”
The boys laughed and clapped their hands at this reply, and were ready to give Bob Swanton a medal for hitting the nail on the head at the right moment.
“The instructors here will try to be in the right.
If they don’t, they won’t be here long. But you and I may not always be able to agree, and I may have to insist on my own way. Then you must submit. But here comes Chester. I wish you all to refrain from saying any thing about what happened yesterday to him. We will all treat him handsomely, and it will be his own fault if he don’t get along without any trouble.”
Oscar came on board with the carpenter. He seemed to be much agitated, and probably he expected some sort of a greeting from his fellow-pupils. As they were not to say any thing to him about the past, they avoided even glancing at him, lest he might put a wrong construction upon their looks. Captain Gildrock appeared not to see him, and he took his place in the rear of the other boys. Possibly he was astonished to find that he had become a person of so little consequence.
“Now, my lads, we are to organize the ship’s company,” said the captain.
“Is this a ship?” asked Dave Windsor.
“This is simply a steamer; properly, a steam-yacht, being used mainly as a pleasure-craft. She is not a ship; but it is customary to speak of the ship’s company, whatever the size or rig of the