h were at their studies, while the
starboard watch had the deck, in charge of Mr. Terrill, the first
lieutenant. This was the captain's study time, for he was a member of
the several classes, and in school hours was subject to the discipline
of the professors, the same as other students.

When the squall began to gather, Professor Hamblin was hearing the
recitation in Greek. The learned gentleman did not think a scholar knew
anything unless he possessed a considerable knowledge of Greek. It was
his favorite branch, and the class in this language was his pet. He was
a strict disciplinarian, and never allowed anything to interrupt the
recitation in Greek if he could possibly avoid it. No scholar, not even
the captain, as the regulations then were, could leave the class without
his permission. It is true, the rule had not been made, or even been
considered, with special reference to the commander of the vessel; but
Paul had always quietly submitted to it, even at some inconvenience and
sacrifice to himself. No emergency had arisen, since the Josephine went
into commission, which required the setting aside of the rule, and it
was supposed the professors would have judgment enough to use it with
proper discretion.

Professor Hamblin, so far as Greek roots were concerned, was not lacking
in judgment; but he knew no more about a ship than Cleats, the
boatswain, did about Greek. He was a very learned man, and lived in a
Greek and Latin atmosphere. The dead languages were the chief end of man
to him. He was cold, stern, and precise, except that, when hearing a
class in Greek, he warmed up a little, and became more human, especially
if the students manifested a becoming interest in his favorite branch.

Unfortunately for Paul Kendall, he was not an enthusiastic devotee of
the Greek language and literature. He lived too much in the present to
be enamoured of anything so old, and, as it seemed to him, so
comparatively useless. But he was faithful in the discharge of all the
academic requirements of the institution, not excepting even those
branches which he disliked. Though he was always very respectful to
Professor Hamblin, he was candid enough to say that he did not like
Greek. He was, therefore, no favorite of the learned gentleman, who
thought his abilities and his scholarship were over-estimated--because
he did not like the dead languages.

"Mr. Terrill directs me to inform you that a squall is coming up," said
Ritchie, th