he coil. If I hadn't dropped it, I should have fallen
myself," replied Grimme, who seemed determined to make the explanation
strong enough to meet the emergency.

"I don't believe a word of it! You meant to insult me!" exclaimed Mr.
Hamblin, still goaded on to intemperate speech by the ill-concealed
jeers of the students. "Mr. Kendall, it is your duty to punish that
insolent fellow."

"I will inquire into the matter, sir. If it appears that he did the act
on purpose, he shall certainly be punished," replied Paul, who, after
his conversation with Duncan, could not help suspecting that this was
the first step in the hazing process to which his friend had alluded.

"Inquire into it!" sneered Mr. Hamblin, with deep disgust. "I complain
of the boy: that is enough."

Paul did not think so; but he made no reply to the angry man, though he
ordered the alleged culprit to the mainmast, which is the locality of
the high court on shipboard.

"Mr. Kendall, I desire to have the gig, for the purpose of visiting the
ship."

"The gig, sir!" exclaimed Paul, to whom the professors were not in the
habit of designating which boat they would have.

"I said the gig, sir," repeated Mr. Hamblin, loftily.

"I beg your pardon, sir; but the gig is the captain's boat," replied
Paul, with deference.

"The captain's boat!" puffed the professor.

"Mr. Lowington directed me to use the first cutter for the professors,"
added Paul.

"Am I to understand that you again refuse me a boat?"

"No, sir; by no means," said the captain, ready to weep with vexation at
these disagreeable incidents.

He turned from Mr. Hamblin, and directed the first lieutenant to pipe
away the first cutters; and in a few moments the boat was ready. The
fourth lieutenant was sent in charge of the cutter. The professor went
over the side into the boat; and as he made no objections, the officers
concluded that he did not know the difference between the gig and the
first cutter. At certain stages of the tide, there is a three-mile
current in the Scheldt, with strong eddies, formed by the sweep of the
river. By a miscalculation of the coxswain, the cutter fell astern of
the ship, and had to pull up to her, which prolonged the passage
somewhat, thereby increasing the ill nature and impatience of Mr.
Hamblin.

"In bows!" said the coxswain, as the boat approached the ship; and the
two bowmen tossed their oars and boated them, taking position in the
bow-grating, with the