Stem to Stern; or, building the boat

by Oliver Optic

The Goldwing got up her anchor, and filled away. Paul watched her till she disappeared in Beaver River. The situation had changed entirely, and Paul was as happy as though there had been no tempest at the point that day. His mother and sister were in good quarters, and he did not much care if the Chesterfields came down upon him in full force. As soon as the schooner was out of sight he went into the house to get his supper.

As soon as the Goldwing was moored, and her crew had eaten their supper, there was a call for all hands to assemble at the new boat-house. The famous structure had been finished nearly a year before, for it was in the month of May that the trouble at Sandy Point took place. The school year began in the September preceding.

After considering the subject during the summer, Captain Gildrock had decided to increase the number of pupils in the Beech Hill Industrial School. But he was a prudent and practical man, and he had taken only a dozen additional scholars. Two had left to take good-paying situations, and the whole number now was thirty-six. There was room in the enlarged dormitory for a dozen more, and space enough for them at the benches in the shops.

A third class had been formed of the beginners; and, as they had been under instruction for eight months, some of them had acquired considerable skill in the use of tools. Another barge had been procured, and the "green hands" had all learned to row, to swim, and a few of them to handle a sailboat. The school was now larger than the one on the other side of the lake. But the Chesterfields, after having been defeated several times in their assaults upon the Beech Hillers, had confined their attention more to their own affairs than formerly. They were satisfied to give the barges of the "tinkers" a wide berth on the lake; and the boating season closed without any more serious quarrels on the water.

The Topovers had never accomplished anything by meddling with the students on their side of the lake. A little discipline in one of the courts had kept them at a distance for a time. When the fruit was ripe, Mr. Brookbine's big dog became a terror to them; for the master carpenter had built a house for him near the rear fence of the orchard, and the animal understood his duty perfectly.

The call for the students after supper was unusual, and no one but the members of the acting crew of the yacht knew what it meant; and even they knew nothing of the plan they were to assist in carrying out. Since the former season there had been some changes in the organization of the students. Captain Gildrock was no longer the actual captain of the Sylph, the beautiful steam yacht connected with the institution.

The position had been given to Dory Dornwood, and the students generally sailed her without the interference of the principal or any of the instructors. Mr. Jepson, the master-machinist, was no longer the chief engineer, and was therefore at no time under the orders of any of the juvenile officers. Corny Minkfield, who had served one season as first assistant-engineer, had been promoted to the highest place, and the second to the place thus made vacant.

Oscar Chester was the first pilot. He had been a diligent student in the pilot-house, and knew the lake almost as well as the captain. All the places had been filled after the first appointments in accordance with the merits of the students, though of necessity "civil service" rules prevailed, for the reason that the members of the ship's company had become more skilful in the departments in which they had been employed than in any other.

The only violent changes made were those which gave the cooks and stewards a chance to learn seamanship or the management of the engine and furnaces. As waiters they learned out in a few months, and even the rather limited routine of cookery required on board was exhausted in the same time. Old deck hands and firemen became stewards, while those who had served in the fireroom and cabins were transferred to the deck.

The increase in the number of students allowed a very large force of seamen, and the vessel was now heavily manned. Crews for the quarter boats were appointed for permanent service, and four quartermasters were added to the organization, who had regular tricks at the wheel in the pilot-house under the direction of the first or second pilot.