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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
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