“I am not ready to go anywhere yet: I want to see what this Industrial School is. We are to learn how to handle an engine, and how to manage ships and boats. I think we had better wait a while before we go to New York. We haven’t money enough to pay our way till we find a place in a ship.”
“You can do as you like, Will, but I have had enough of this thing; and when you miss me you
will know where I have gone. If you blow on me”—
“You know very well I won’t do that,” protested Will.
Oscar did not wait to hear any more. He went forward, and then ascended to the hurricane deck. He and Will Orwell had been cronies, so far as the character of Oscar would permit such a relation.
The rebel reached the hurricane deck, and went forward to the pilot-house. He surveyed the situation carefully. Dory stood before an open window, with the spokes of the wheel in his hands. The doors of the apartment, one on each side, were open. The young helmsman had no more thought of being assaulted than he had of jumping overboard.
Dory was delighted with his occupation, for he had not steered the Sylph enough to make it an old story to him. From Garden Island he had run out into the lake until the steamer was in range between Split Rock and Juniper Island lights, when he headed for the latter. This course would carry him clear of Quaker Smith Reef.
Most of the boys, after looking over the Sylph
with wonder and astonishment at the elegance of her appointments, had gathered on the main deck forward, where they could see the lake and the course of the steamer. But a few of them were on the hurricane-deck, and three of them were in the pilot-house with Dory. The pilot kept his eye on Juniper Island lighthouse, the top of which could be seen seventeen miles. The flag-pole in the bow was kept in range with the object for which he was steering. He had just explained to the boys in the room how he kept off the rocks and shoals, and found his way to any part of the lake.
He had hardly finished this explanation before Oscar Chester rushed into the pilot-house. He rudely knocked aside a couple of the pilot’s auditors, and laid violent hands upon Dory. The helmsman was unconscious of the presence of an enemy until the rebel had seized him by the collar of his coat. He pulled him over on his back upon the floor.