felt in the towering ambition of
her son.
"I could, if any fellow could."
"Clyde is very fond of the sea; indeed, he worries me sadly by his
adventurous spirit," said his mother.
"I think it would do him good to go to sea," added the principal,
rather dryly.
"The students made a beautiful appearance in their boats to-day,"
continued Mrs. Blacklock. "It was really very, _very_ wonderful."
"They handle the boats very well indeed, but their skill was only
acquired by long and careful training. As we have a considerable
number of visitors on board, madam, we will show you a little
seamanship. Captain Cumberland," he added, turning to the young
commander, who had been making himself agreeable to Miss Celia
Blacklock.
The captain asked the young lady to excuse him, and stepping up to the
principal, bowed gracefully, and raised his cap.
"He's a regular swell," said Clyde to his man.
"He's a young gentleman as is highly polished, which these naval
officers is generally," replied Jeems.
Mr. Lowington directed the captain to call all hands, and go through
the evolutions of loosing and furling, for the gratification of the
guests of the ship. Captain Cumberland bowed and raised his cap again
as he retired, and the principal hoped that Clyde would take a lesson
in good manners from him.
"Will you walk to the quarter-deck, Miss Blacklock," said the captain,
touching his cap to the young lady, to whom he had been formally
introduced by the principal. "We are going to loose and furl, and you
can see better there than here."
"With pleasure," replied Miss Celia. "But what did you say you were
going to do?"
"Loose and furl the sails," replied the captain, as he conducted the
fair miss to the quarter-deck, where they were followed by Mr.
Lowington and the rest of the party.
"Mr. Judson," said the commander.
"Here, sir," replied the first lieutenant.
"Call all hands to loose and furl."
"All hands, sir," responded Judson, touching his cap to his superior,
as all on board were required to do.
"They are all swells," said Clyde to his man.
"All hands, loose sails!" shouted the boatswain, as he blew the proper
blast on his whistle.
In a few moments every officer and seaman was at his station for the
manoeuvre indicated by the call. The students, aware that they were
simply to "show off," were fully determined to astonish the wondering
crowd on the decks.
"Stand by to lay aloft, the ready-men!" sh
|