ion she sprang a leak, and the master-at-arms,
believing that she was about to sink, released a hundred British
prisoners who were confined in the hold."

"Didn't he deserve to be pitched overboard?" asked Jackson.

"This thing can never be decided by argument, fellows," said Major
Williams. "I wish something would turn up, so that we might have a
chance to show ourselves."

"So do I," answered Harry. "We would soon convince you that the infantry
of the Newport Academy is a slow coach compared with its navy."

But for a long time that "something" did not "turn up," and the rival
students despaired of ever having an opportunity to test their
respective abilities. If Tom Newcombe had only been there to organize
another runaway expedition; or if some discontented boy could be found
to take his place! But no one thought of deserting the academy now that
the grand commander was gone, and the students, determined to excel
their opponents in every thing, devoted themselves to their studies.
Each side put forward its best scholars for the valedictory and other
academic honors, and some of those who were the loudest in denouncing
the navy, picked out the offices on board the yacht that they thought
themselves competent to fill, and worked night and day to prepare for
the examination. But now came Tom Newcombe and his band of outlaws, and
gave them the very opportunity they had so long wished for. To the
soldiers he did not come so much as an incendiary as a solution. They
wanted to capture him simply to beat the navy. The reason why Packard
was in no hurry to go back to the academy was, because if he and his
boat's crew were ordered to join their company, they would be obliged to
work against their favorite branch of the service, and they wanted to
assist it by every means in their power.

When the jolly-boat had left the yacht, Harry took his stand on the
quarter-deck, and watched the shoals as closely as ever a cat watched a
mouse. His crew was now reduced to seven men--a small force with which
to board the Sweepstakes, but still the first lieutenant wished she
would come out. He knew that his note to Captain Steele would bring all
the troops at the academy about the cove, and he was impatient to have
the work done before they arrived. The captain would soon be on hand to
take command of the vessel, and then, if the Crusoe men were captured by
the navy, the lion's share of the honors would fall upon the shoulders
that wor