A few of the pupils were disposed to applaud the appointment; but others hushed them up, and there was no demonstration.
“The third in rank are the engineers. As I am captain, Mr. Jepson will be the chief-engineer. We shall have a first and second assistant-engineer. Next come the first and second cook. Following this department is the steward’s. The first, or chief, steward, the second, third, and fourth stewards, are the names of the places. Then come the firemen, of whom there will be four, and lastly the crew, or deck-hands as they are sometimes called. When we have twenty-four scholars, there will be eight of them.”
The boys then asked a score of questions, which the captain answered with great good-nature, though some of them were trivial.
“Now, my lads, you wear the clothes in which you came from your homes. I have provided uniforms for you, which you will put on before we get under way.”
Mr. Sheers, a tailor from the town, was in attendance to assist the boys in fitting themselves to the uniforms. This dress consisted of woollen shirts, blue sailor-pants, and short jackets. A
white cap was given to each, and in half an hour all hands were on deck in their new rig. They looked very salt for a fresh-water lake, but the uniform was very neat and appropriate.
While the captain was talking to the pupils, Bates had brought on board a quantity of provisions and stores, which he had put in their proper places. The ice-house had received a supply, and every thing was ready for a start. Dory was directed to get under way, and he went to the pilot-house. Bates was on duty, and cast off the fasts when the signal was given. The bells rang, and the Sylph was soon moving out of the lake. In an hour and forty minutes she touched the wharf at Burlington. The Goldwing Club were on the pier, as they had been notified to be by Dory. Additional provisions were taken on board, and again the steamer was under way.
Captain Gildrock called all the students to the hurricane deck, where Dory could see what was going on. The boys were greatly excited, for they were curious to know what positions they would obtain. Captain Gildrock produced a number of white cards, and then stood up before the scholars. Taking a box which Bates brought to
him, he dropped the cards into it, and then shook them up.
“Now, my lads, you will soon know who is cook and who is first officer,” said the captain, as he placed the box on the shelf in the pilot-house, where the boys could reach it through one of the windows. “On each of the cards is written one of the positions of which I spoke to you. You will walk up to this window, reach into the box, and draw out one of the cards. You will not look into the box.”