“Is the second pilot on board?” asked Captain Gildrock; and Dory wondered if he knew any thing about the second battle of Plattsburgh.
The first and second officers looked about the deck and into the cabins for the missing pilot, but he could not be found. A more thorough search was made by all hands, and it was soon evident that “Mr. Chester” was not on board. The captain finished the call of the roll, and made no remark in regard to the disappearance of the second pilot. He directed the first officer to get up the anchor.
It looked as though Oscar Chester had absconded, notwithstanding his good conduct during the forenoon. Possibly some of the boys, especially Will Orwell, knew something about
the matter; but they did not volunteer to give any information, and the principal did not ask for any. He said nothing at all, in fact, about the missing student. The captain did not appear to be in the least degree disturbed by the absence of the refractory pupil.
Captain Gildrock looked on while the crew walked around the capstan. The officers had learned their lesson well; and, for a first trial, the operation of getting up the anchor was handsomely done.
The first pilot was at his post; and, as soon as “anchor aweigh” was reported to him, he rang the gong. Mr. Jepson stood on deck, near the door of the engine-room, having stationed his first assistant at the machine. He opened the valve slowly, and the thumping of the screw was immediately heard.
Captain Gildrock had gone to the hurricane deck, where he could see all that was done in the pilot-house and on the forecastle. He cast occasional glances at the wharf, and he directed Dory to run in that direction. Then he called the first officer, and told him to get ready to make a landing.
Dory ran the Sylph up to the wharf, where she was secured by the enthusiastic crew. The portion of the bulwark at the starboard gangway was removed, and the plank run out. While Mr. Glovering was wondering who was going on shore, Oscar Chester stepped out of the building on the wharf, and walked on board as coolly as though nothing had happened to disturb his equanimity.
“Haul in the plank!” called the captain. “Cast off, Dory.”
The pilot on duty blew a sharp whistle, which was the signal to cast off the fasts; and the officers below attended to this duty. The Sylph backed out from the wharf, and then went ahead, the engine being wholly managed by Corny Minkfield. Oscar Chester went directly to the hurricane deck, and was about to enter the pilot-house, when he was confronted by Captain Gildrock.