“Ah, here comes two recruits!” exclaimed Captain Gildrock, as Pemberton and Bolingbroke Millweed came on board. “I am particularly glad to see you, boys.”
“Thank you, sir,” replied Pemberton politely; and the principal was delighted to see that there was no appearance of compulsion in their coming.
“We have twenty-two of the pupils I want: four of them will join us at Burlington, and two more at Plattsburgh. I hope the other two will arrive before we begin the school.”
“Are we going to Plattsburgh to-day, sir?” asked Bob Swanton.
“We are; and it is time we were moving,
though we have considerable to do before we can leave. I have concluded to be captain myself for the present, until I find a pupil who is competent to fill the place.”
“Dory!” exclaimed several of the boys.
“Dory will not be captain, though I think he is competent. I want him in another place. He is my nephew, but he shall not be favored on that account. I have places for the twenty-four pupils of the school, and I will name them to you. Next to the captain will be the first and second officers, sometimes called mates, and, in men-of-war, lieutenants.”
“But none of our crowd know any thing about steamers or boats, and are not fit for officers.”
“The officers will learn their duties; and after a while, when you have all had a chance to know what is required of you, these positions will be given to those who are the most competent to fill them. The next in rank will be the first and second pilot. As Dory is the only one of you who is fitted to pilot a steamer, I shall appoint him first pilot. This is the only one I shall select for any place. All the others will be drawn by lot as soon as we leave Burlington.”