"Square and compasses," added the captain, laughing. "We use a compass on board of a vessel."
"You are right, captain; the dividers are properly compasses, and they ought always to be called so to distinguish them from the marine instrument, but many carpenters use the word in the singular form. The square and compasses, with a set of framing chisels and a few more heavy mallets than we have, will be all the different articles we shall need."
Captain Gildrock gave the order at once, and Mr. Ritchie wrote it down. After a survey of the schoolroom and the dormitory, the visitors were taken to the lake. Bates pulled them over to the grove and they carefully looked over the shores on both sides in preparation for the examination of the plans. The next morning they engaged in their work upon the plans submitted. The master carpenter and the master machinist were added to the committee at the request of the visitors. The following day was Saturday, and a grand excursion around Lake Champlain was arranged for the guests.
After breakfast the students put on their steamer uniform, and took their stations on board of the Sylph. The visitors were greatly amused as well as delighted when they saw the students in their places on board. The attentive scholar of the schoolroom, the inventor in the workshops had become a cook, a waiter, a pilot, or a deck hand. Mr. Plint insisted that it was all decidedly funny.
They looked with wonder at Oscar Chester at the wheel in the pilot-house, where he had the helm alone. But he knew what he was about, though Dory Dornwood, the first pilot, kept a close watch upon the movements of the steam yacht. The dinner was not only elaborate but excellent; and the visitors returned to Beech Hill deeply impressed by what they had seen.
On Monday morning they were ready to report on the plans.
CHAPTER XXI. THE ORATOR OF THE REBELS OBTAINS A HEARING.
The students gathered in the schoolroom as usual on Monday morning. There was no little excitement, even among those who had no interest in the prizes, for it had been announced that the awards would be made at this time. So closely had every student who had any ideas in regard to the plan or location kept them to himself, that no one could even make a guess as to who would get the prizes.