from?"

"We are the First Class in Long Division," said the oldest boy, "and
we are cast away. Have you any thing to eat that you can spare us? We
are almost famished."

"We have plenty of every thing," said the Captain. "Come on board
instantly, and all your wants shall be supplied."

"How long have you been without food?" he asked, when the boys were
on the deck of the vessel.

"We have had nothing to eat since breakfast," said one of them; "and
it is now late in the afternoon. Some of us are nearly dead from
starvation."

"It is very hard for boys to go so long without eating," said the
good Captain. And leading them below, he soon set them to work upon a
bountiful meal.

Not until their hunger was fully satisfied did he ask them how they
came to be cast away.

"You see, sir," said the oldest boy, "that we and the Multiplication
Class had a holiday to-day, and each class took a boat and determined
to have a race, so as to settle, once for all, which was the highest
branch of arithmetic, multiplication or long division. Our class
rowed so hard that we entirely lost sight of the Multiplicationers,
and found indeed that we were out of sight of every thing; so that,
at last, we did not know which was the way back, and thus we became
castaways."

"Where is your school?" asked the Captain.

"It is on Apple Island," said the boy; "and, although it is a long
way off for a small boat with only four oars for nine boys, it can't
be very far for a ship."

"That is quite likely," said the Captain, "and we shall take you
home. Baragat, tell the chief mate to have the vessel turned toward
Apple Island, that we may restore these boys to their parents and
guardians."

Now, the chief mate had not the least idea in the world where Apple
Island was, but he did not like to ask, because that would be
confessing his ignorance; so he steered his vessel toward a point
where he believed he had once seen an island, which, probably, was
the one in question. The "Horn o' Plenty" sailed in this direction
all night, and when day broke, and there was no island in sight, she
took another course; and so sailed this way and that for six or seven
days, without ever seeing a sign of land. All this time, the First
Class in Long Division was as happy as it could be, for it was having
a perfect holiday; fishing off the sides of the vessel, climbing up
the ladders and ropes, and helping the sailors whistle for wind. But
the Captain now bega