e it takes to read it; and the light
sails of the Josephine were furled. The main gaff-topsail was taken in,
and then the schooner had only her jib, foresail, and mainsail. It was
not necessary to take these in until the peril became more imminent; but
Paul ordered the foresail to be lowered, and reefed, for the vessel was
supposed to lie to best under this sail. The Young America had furled
everything except her topsails, jib, and spanker.

Professor Hamblin had not yet recovered from his astonishment, and he
was as indignant as a learned Greek scholar could be. Professor Stoute
and himself were the only persons left in the steerage; but while the
former laughed, the latter stormed.

"I have been insulted, Mr. Stoute," said the learned gentleman. "That
boy has disobeyed me, as though I were a person of no consequence."

"Why, he was perfectly respectful to you," laughed the good-natured
professor. "You must remember that he is the captain of the ship, and
that everything depends upon him."

"He left the class contrary to my orders; and not satisfied with that,
he calls all the rest of the students on deck," added Mr. Hamblin,
wrathfully. "I had not finished the Greek lesson."

"But there's a squall coming up," pleaded Mr. Stoute.

"What if there was a squall coming up. The principal assured me there
were hands enough on deck to work the vessel under all ordinary
circumstances."

"But you don't understand the matter, Mr. Hamblin," continued the jolly
professor.

"Do you mean to insult me too, Mr. Stoute?" demanded the irate
fountain-head of Greek literature.

"Certainly not; I beg your pardon, Mr. Hamblin," replied Mr. Stoute,
laughing more heartily than before. "I do not profess to comprehend
these nautical affairs; but I presume it was necessary to call all
hands, or the captain would not have done so."

"It was not necessary. I am willing to take the responsibility of that
assertion myself, and I shall report this disrespect and disobedience of
the captain to Mr. Lowington. If he chooses to sustain the delinquent in
such gross misconduct, I will leave the vessel at the first port we
enter."

"Mr. Lowington will certainly do justice to both of you."

"Excuse me, Mr. Stoute; he must do justice to _me_. I have been a
schoolmaster and a professor in college all my lifetime, and I do not
wish to have any one speak of settling a case between me and one of my
pupils. There is only one side to such a question,