that I was told I spoke sharply to you. If you had told me so before hitting me, I should have begged your pardon. I mean to do the right thing.”
“Your hand, Dory!” exclaimed Oscar, extending his own. “You are a good fellow, even if you are so frightfully proper.”
Dory gave the rebel his right hand, and his companion shook it heartily. There was some good left in Oscar Chester.
“I always thrashed every fellow in the school that didn’t fag to me, and I suppose I have been spoiled. But I will try to do better. If I don’t do well, you must thrash me again, Dory,” added the second pilot, smiling blandly. “I hope we shall be friends; and I will take the wheel now, if you will show me how to handle it.”
“You handle it very well already, though there are a great many things you will have to learn, as every wheelman must,” replied Dory cordially, and without putting on any airs.
There was peace in the pilot-house now, as there was in every part of the steamer. Captain Gildrock looked into the room after a while, and found that the two pilots were apparently excellent
friends. He did not say any thing, or even enter the apartment; for he thought the boys would get along better without any help.
The Sylph went up the lake as far as Ticonderoga. The instruction was continued in all the departments; and as the students were required to do the work themselves, as well as listen to the theory, they made rapid progress, and enjoyed themselves to the end of the trip. They were sorry when it was finished.
The steamer was secured at the temporary wharf in Beech Lake. Supper had been served on board as arranged in the morning; and the cooks and stewards had to put things in order before they went on shore. The engineers and firemen were taught in what shape to leave the engine and boilers. The first and second officers put the decks in order. But the pilots had nothing to do when the boat touched the wharf.
“Is Captain Gildrock on board?” asked Mr. Millweed, who was on the wharf when Dory landed.