“I will write to Sim Green, and he can go up in her when he is ready to return.”
When the party arrived at the wharf, and the Goldwing was pointed out to them, they were delighted with her. Some of them wondered if it were safe to go in her, though most of the ten were afraid of nothing. Captain Gildrock had business in Burlington which would detain him till the next day, and it was arranged that Dory should come down in the Sylph to attend court. His uncle would return in the steamer.
“But what are we to do with all these fellows before you come, uncle Royal?” asked Dory. “They will tear the house down, and dry up the lake.”
“Jepson and Brookbine are there; and, as they
are to instruct the pupils, they ought to be able to manage them,” replied the captain; but his looks indicated that he had some anxiety about the matter. “Tell Mr. Brookbine to assign the rooms to the boys, one to each, in the dormitory. The rogues will not think of doing any mischief until they are better acquainted.”
Captain Gildrock gave Dory a paper on which were written the names of the new pupils. He called them off, one at a time, and gave to each one his place in the boat. They behaved very well under the eye of the captain. They were seated five on each side of the standing-room, leaving room for the skipper to go forward and aft.
“I suppose you know all about a boat, fellows,” said Dory, as he went forward to hoist the jib.
“Never saw a sailboat before!” exclaimed Ben Ludlow.
“Nor I!” shouted half a dozen others.
“Where have you been all your lives?” laughed Dory, as he paused on his way.