.

"What did you say about Captain Kendall?" asked the principal, catching
at the straw which the learned gentleman's question seemed to hold out
to him.

"I prefer to speak to you alone about it, Mr. Lowington," added the
professor, glancing at the group of officers and instructors that were
gathering around him. "I will endeavor to control my emotions in stating
this unpleasant business."

Mr. Lowington, apparently happy to have even a moment's respite from the
grief and gloom which must follow the sad intelligence of the loss of
Captain Kendall, led the way to the professors' cabin.

"Now, sir, what is it? Let me know the worst!" exclaimed the principal,
dropping upon the sofa like a man whose strength had all been taken from
him. "I have been dreading it for many long and weary hours."

"Dreading it?" repeated the confused professor. "Dreading what, sir?"

"That the Josephine had suffered severely in the storm," replied the
principal, impatiently. "You have come to tell me that Captain Kendall
was lost overboard?" And Mr. Lowington heaved a long sigh.

"No, sir," protested Mr. Hamblin.

"Didn't you say that a very unpleasant affair had happened on board?"
demanded the principal, eagerly.

"I did; but it was not the loss of the captain."

"Who was it?" asked Mr. Lowington, catching his breath, in the heaviness
of his anxiety.

"I really don't understand you, sir," said the learned gentleman,
astonished and confounded by what he regarded as the singular conduct of
the principal.

"Has any one been lost overboard from the Josephine?" demanded Mr.
Lowington, in a loud tone, for he was impatient under the shuffling
manner of the professor.

"No, sir; no one, that I am aware of."

"That you are aware of!" exclaimed Mr. Lowington, sternly.

"Of course, if any one had been lost, I should have heard of it,"
answered Mr. Hamblin, who did not quite like the tone of the principal.

"Then the officers and crew are all safe--are they?"

"They are, sir--all safe."

"Thank God!" ejaculated Mr. Lowington, heartily, an awfully heavy load
removed from his mind.

"I have come on board, sir, to make a complaint against the captain of
the Josephine. This is the unpleasant business which brings me here,"
added the learned gentleman, decidedly.

"Indeed!"

But even this, disagreeable as it was, came as a relief to the
overcharged heart of Paul's best friend, who had received a terrible
shock from the confused st