These orders soon brought the boats to a stand. The signal flag moved in a horizontal circle.
“Pull, starboard; back, port. Give way!” continued the coxswains; and the effect of this evolution was to turn the boats as on a pivot. “Oars!” and the crew ceased pulling, with their oars all on a level, and the blades feathered.
The boats had been turned half round, and each coxswain aligned his own by the barge on the right. In this position three cheers were given in compliment to the people on the shore, though the Norwegians seemed to be too dull and heavy to comprehend the nature of the movement. The boats swung again, and continued on their way, in single line, through the narrow passage between Odderö and the main land. Under the direction of the native pilot, the barge led the way among the islands, affording the students an opportunity to see the shores. When the fleet came into the broad channel, the order was resumed, as at first, and after various manœuvres, it was dismissed, each boat returning to the vessel to which it belonged.
The appearance of the fleet, including the two beautiful yachts, and the evolutions of the boats, had created a decided sensation on board of the Orlando, which was crowded with passengers, most of them tourists on their way to the interior of Norway. The crews of the several vessels piped to dinner as soon as they returned from the excursion; but the meal was hardly finished before visitors from the steamer began to arrive, and the boatmen in the harbor made a good harvest on the occasion. Among those who came to the ship was an elegantly dressed lady, with her son and daughter, attended by a servant man in livery. Mrs. Garberry Blacklock was duly presented to the principal by one of the gentlemen who had introduced himself. She was evidently a very fine lady; for she was “distinguished” in her manners as well as in her dress. And her son, Clyde Blacklock, was as evidently a very fine young gentleman, though he was only fourteen years of age. It is doubtful whether Miss Celia Blacklock could be regarded as a very fine young lady, for she appeared to be very pretty, and very modest and retiring, with but a very moderate estimate of her own importance.
For the tenth time Mr. Lowington briefly explained the nature of the institution over which he presided; and the fine lady listened with languishing ennui.
“But it is a very rough life for young gentlemen,” suggested Mrs. Blacklock. “I should fancy they would become very, very rude.”
“Not necessarily,” replied the principal. “We intend that the students shall behave like gentlemen, and we think the discipline of the ship has a tendency to promote good manners.”
“They must live like sailors, and sailors are very, very rude.”
“Not necessarily, madam. There is nothing in the occupation itself that—”
“But I wish to know what the fellows do,” interposed Mr. Clyde Blacklock.