The wheel had been given to Bates, and Dory had gone to the main deck with the others. The boys seemed to be in good humor, and those who had drawn inferior positions were apparently the jolliest of the crowd. Very likely they were disappointed: if they were, they did not complain.
The principal brought from the pilot-house a pile of coats and half a dozen badges, which he
laid on a bench. As soon as the half-dozen he had called up had assembled near him, he spoke again.
“I told you there would be some changes in the uniform after we left Burlington,” said he. “Those whom I have called up are to be regarded as officers. Instead of wearing the short jackets you have on, you will put on sack-coats. On his cap each of you will wear one of these badges, which indicates the position the wearer holds.”
The officers put on the badges, and exchanged the short jackets for the more dignified garments handed to them by the captain. Certainly they looked more like officers than before. There was some good-natured chaffing among them, for they could not well help making fun of each other. As there was no appearance of ill-feeling among them, the principal did not object.
“What are we to do now, Captain Gildrock?” John Brattle asked.
“The first thing to do is to learn your duties,” replied the captain. “You and Minkfield will go to the engine-room, and Mr. Jepson will instruct you.”
The two engineers hastened below, full of enthusiasm, and very anxious to learn the duties of their new positions. The captain proceeded to instruct the first and second officers in regard to their offices, but all the time he was thinking about the second pilot. He was not prepared to send Oscar Chester into the pilot-house with Dory. But Bates knew how to steer, and knew the way to Plattsburgh; though he was not a pilot for the lake. Finally he concluded to send the second pilot to learn how to handle the wheel, while he kept Dory with him to assist in organizing the crew.
Captain Gildrock then went down to the main deck. The four firemen were immediately sent to the engineer. It happened that the two cooks had had some experience in their new department; and they were ordered to the galley, with instructions to learn all they could about the cooking arrangements, so that they could find any thing they wanted.
Pemberton Millweed had learned to cook a little, while with parties on the lake; and Jim Alburgh had spent one winter in a logging-camp in the woods, where he had learned the rudiments