CAPTAIN KENDALL’S DEFENCE.

The squadron remained off Flushing long enough for Mr. Fluxion to visit the shore, and ascertain the condition of the “Wel tevreeden.”  The repairs were going on, but were not completed, and the cost of them could not yet be determined.  The vice-principal, however, obtained such information in regard to the probable expense, as to enable him to make a final settlement.  Captain Schimmelpennink came off to the Josephine with him on his return.  It was certain that eleven hundred guilders would cover the whole expense of putting the galiot in perfect repair, and the balance of this sum was handed to the skipper.

If there ever was a grateful man in the world, that man was the captain of the “Wel tevreeden.”  In addition to the energetic speeches he made through the interpreter, he indulged in some very pretty and significant gesticulations, which the officers and crew could comprehend.  The students were happy in the good deed they had done-quite as happy as the the skipper himself.  In addition to the sum expended, there was five hundred and fifty-four guilders in the hands of the treasurer, which was to be used for some similar object when presented to them.

While Mr. Fluxion was absent at Flushing, Mr. Lowington had gone on board of the Josephine, and, taking Paul into his state-room, had exhibited the fictitious note to him, stating the charge made against him by Mr. Hamblin.

“I need not say, Captain Kendall, that this is a very serious charge,” added the principal, solemnly.

“I think it is, sir,” replied Paul, blushing deeply.  “If you think I wrote that letter, sir, I hope you will do your duty.”

“I certainly shall, though it break my heart.”

“Whatever you do, sir, it will not alter my regard for you.”

“I am already accused of partiality towards you, Captain Kendall,” added Mr. Lowington.  “I confess that I never had a pupil for whom I cherished so high an esteem and so warm a regard.”

“Thank you, sir.  You are now, as you always have been, very kind to me,” replied Paul, hardly able to restrain the tears in which his emotions demanded expression.

“I must say that I deem this charge groundless and absurd; but I cannot explain it away.  The writing in the note resembles yours in some respects; and the fact that the kind of paper on which the note is written is found in your possession alone has not been explained.  Do you know anything about this note?”

“Nothing, sir; only that it came in the mail with the rest of the Josephine’s letters.”

“When did you get the paper which Mr. Hamblin found in your writing desk?”

“I bought it in Antwerp on Tuesday afternoon, when we went on shore,” replied Paul, promptly.

“I shall be obliged to inquire further into this matter.  You will have all hands called.”

They left the state-room together, and the first lieutenant ordered the ship’s company to be piped to quarters.  Without any definite explanation, the principal directed all the students to bring their stock of stationery on deck, and they passed in review before him, exhibiting the quality of their paper.  At the same time Mr. Stoute searched the steerage for any which might have been concealed.  If any student had purchased paper in Antwerp, it was not of the kind on which the forged letter had been written.

“Young gentlemen,” said Mr. Lowington, mounting his rostrum, “a practical joke is the stupidest thing in the world, when perpetrated at the expense of the feelings of others.  Some one has put such a joke upon Mr. Hamblin, the very last person in the world to appreciate this species of humor.  One of your number is charged with the act.”

“The old lunatic has laid it to the captain,” whispered Terrill, who thus interpreted the mysterious proceedings of the principal and Paul.

“The particular kind of paper on which the letter to Mr. Hamblin was written is found only in the possession of that one student,” continued the principal, with an emotion he could not wholly conceal.  “I desire, if any of you have any information in regard to the note, that you will communicate it at once.”

Mr. Lowington paused, and the boys looked blankly at each other.  Even to them, at that moment, a practical joke seemed to be the stupidest thing in the world.  There was a tremendous sensation among them; but no one volunteered to give the desired information.

“Young gentlemen, although the evidence in my possession is not sufficient to condemn the student charged with the offence, it is enough to justify grave suspicions, and I shall be under the painful necessity of suspending him, and sending him on board of the ship for further examination.”

Paul was not half so much disturbed by this announcement as he had been by the trying scene with Mr. Hamblin, a few days before.  It is the guilt, and not the loss of honor, the disgrace, which is hard to bear when one is charged with misconduct or crime.  He stood with folded arms, submissive to the authority of the principal, and satisfied that the truth would prevail in the end.

“Who is he?” asked one of the students in a suppressed tone, when the silence became painful.

“Captain Kendall,” replied the principal; and this name produced a tremendous thrill in the hearts of the ship’s company.

“No, sir!  No, sir!” shouted some of the students.

“Silence, young gentlemen!  I know how you feel,” interposed Mr. Lowington.  “Although it would seem to me impossible that Captain Kendall should have written this letter, Mr. Hamblin distinctly charges him with the act, and I am sorry to add that there is some evidence to prove the charge.”

Mr. Lowington was more grieved than any other person on board, and it is more than probable that, in his great anxiety to avoid partiality, he ran into the opposite extreme, and exposed himself to the peril of doing injustice to his young friend.

“Captain Kendall, you will consider yourself under arrest, and report on board of the ship,” added the principal, turning to Paul.

The young commander bowed submissively, and the boys wondered how he was able to take the matter so coolly.

“It’s a shame!” exclaimed Terrill, in a low tone, to Pelham.

“Mr. Terrill,” continued Mr. Lowington, “the command of the Josephine devolves upon you until further orders, and you will go to sea as soon as Mr. Fluxion returns.”

The first lieutenant started when his name was called, and suspected that he was to be taken to task for the remark he had just made.  It was fortunate for him, perhaps, that the principal did not hear his energetic words, or the command might have been given to the second lieutenant, for Terrill’s impulsive nature would have led him into some intemperate speech, so deeply did he feel for the captain.

“I hope my command will be of very short duration, sir,” said he, as the principal stepped down from the hatch.

“I hope so, Mr. Terrill,” answered Mr. Lowington.  “Captain Kendall, you will repair to the ship in the barge.”

“I will be ready in a moment, sir,” replied Paul, as he went below to obtain a few needed articles.

“Captain Kendall, I am downright sorry for this,” said Terrill, following him into his state-room.

“Don’t be at all disturbed about it,” answered Paul, cheerfully.  “I am glad Mr. Lowington has taken this course.  I expect to be able to prove that I could not have written the letter, and I shall be restored as soon as we reach Rotterdam.  It is a good deal better to be proved innocent than to be suspected of being guilty.  Here is the key of the safe,” he added, as he took it from his pocket and handed it to his successor.

“It’s lucky for old Hamblin he isn’t on board of the Josephine,” said Terrill, with an ominous shake of the head.  “I think the fellows would throw him overboard before the vessel gets to Rotterdam if he were.”

“That isn’t the right spirit, Terrill; and as a particular favor to me, I ask that you will not say a word about Mr. Hamblin.  I have my own opinion in regard to him; and I suppose every fellow has; but the least said is the soonest mended.  I hope you will not let the officers and crew indulge in any demonstrations of disapproval.”

“Not let them!  I can’t help it.  I believe if old Hamblin was on board, I would join with the rest of the fellows in making a spread eagle of him on the fore shrouds,” answered the commander pro tem.

“Don’t think of such a thing.  Two wrongs won’t make a right,” said Paul, anxiously.  “You and I have been first-rate friends, Terrill, and for my sake do not encourage or tolerate any demonstrations.”

“I will do the best I can, but I feel just like making the biggest row I was ever in since I was born.”

“Keep cool; you are going to sea right off, and you will have enough to do to look out for the vessel.”

“I shall do as you tell me, if I can; but only because you wish it.  I think the fellows ought to give a few hearty groans, so as to be sure no one mistakes their sentiments.”

“Don’t do it, Terrill,” said Paul, as he led the way to the deck, with his bundle in his hand.

When they went on deck, Mr. Fluxion had just returned in the first cutter; and great was his astonishment, and that of the boat’s crew, when informed of the exciting event which had just transpired.  The interview with the Dutch skipper changed the current of thought on board for the moment; but as soon as he departed, nothing was talked of but the arrest of the captain.

Paul stepped into the barge with the principal, who was very sad and silent.  As soon as they were on board of the Young America, and the barge hoisted up, orders were given to fill away again.

“What does that mean?” asked Perth, when the barge was hoisted up, as he ran up to Wilton.

“What?”

“Why, there is Captain Kendall on the quarter-deck of the ship, and the Josephine is getting under way without him.”

“There’s been a row somewhere; Kendall is one of the flunkies, but he’s a good fellow for all that,” added Wilton, who could not help giving Paul this tribute.

“I’ll tell you what it is,” said Howe,-who was one of the barge’s crew, and had heard all the proceedings on board of the Josephine,-as he joined them, “Kendall has been suspended, broken, turned out of office for writing that letter to old Hamblin.”

“Is that so?” demanded Perth.

“That’s so; but all the fellows in the Josephine say he didn’t do it.”

“It would be a new idea for Kendall to do anything wrong-even to sneeze in prayer time.”

The order to man the braces interrupted the conversation; but the news went through the ship even before she had begun to gather headway.  The matter was thoroughly discussed, and it was perfectly understood that Mr. Hamblin had preferred the charge upon which Paul had been broken or suspended.  The commander of the Josephine was almost as popular in the ship as he was in the consort; and the indignation against the professor of Greek was hardly less violent in the one than in the other.

“Captain Kendall, you will occupy the spare state-room in the after cabin, next to Flag-officer Gordon’s,” said Mr. Lowington to Paul, as they met after the ship was underway.

“Thank you, sir,” replied the young commander, who had seated himself near the companion-way.

“As soon as supper is disposed of, I propose to examine into the charge.  You shall have a fair trial.”

“I have no doubt of that.”

Mr. Lowington walked away, and Paul, who was much embarrassed by the continued expressions of sympathy extended to him by the officers of the ship, retired to his state-room to consider his line of defence.

Mr. Hamblin, satisfied before, was delighted now.  Justice seemed to be extending her tardy hand in his favor.  The rebel against his mighty will had been suspended, and was actually under arrest.  Of course the principal had acknowledged the validity of the evidence he had presented.  The motive for such an annoying practical joke was patent to all in the squadron, while the quality of the paper and the resemblance of the writing were enough to convict the offender.

The professor was enjoying his triumph, not vindictively, he persuaded himself, but in the sense that his own personal action and motives were on the eve of being justified.  As the ship moved majestically down the river, he walked up and down, athwart ships, in a better mood to enjoy the scene which presented itself than ever before since he joined the squadron.  He walked from rail to rail because Paul was seated on the quarter-deck, and he did not care to meet him.  When the young commander went below, he walked fore and aft.

The deck was crowded with students waiting for the supper bell to ring; and many an ugly and dissatisfied look was bestowed upon him; but the learned gentleman, in his triumph, was too well pleased with himself to notice them.  Mr. Hamblin involuntarily extended his walk, from time to time, until it was continued to the forecastle, where the crew were collected in large numbers.  Hardly had he passed the foremast on his first round, than he was saluted by a universal groan, so deep and hearty that he stopped short and looked at the crowd.  They were silent then.

“Young gentlemen,” said the savant, sternly, “if that was intended as an expression of-”

The remark of censure was brought to an abrupt termination by a very annoying incident.  Mr. Hamblin had halted directly under the weather fore yard-arm, braced up so as to take the wind on the beam.  Before he had reached this point of his remark, a new fellow by the name of Little, remarkable for his agility, dropped from the yard directly upon the top of the learned gentleman’s hat, in fact, sitting down upon his “tile” as fairly and squarely as though the deed had been done on purpose, bringing with him the slack of the weather clew-garnet.

The professor was prostrated to the deck by the weight of the little seaman,-for Little’s name precisely described his stature,-while the unfortunate boy was thrown forward flat upon his face.

“O, I’m killed, I’m killed!” cried Little, rising with much real or apparent difficulty, and pressing one hand upon his hip.

“You rascal, you!” roared Mr. Hamblin from the inside of his hat, as a dozen boys sprang forward to pick him up.

The professor was not a fashionable man, and did not wear a hat which would simply rest upon the top of his head, or which would pinch the depository of his ancient lore, and the weight of the student had pressed it far down over his eyes.  With some labor he extricated his learned pate from its imprisonment, and glanced with dismay at the hat-a new one which he had bought in Antwerp to replace the one he had lost overboard in the hurricane.

“You scoundrel!” repeated the savant, when he had removed the mutilated tile.

“He didn’t mean to do it, sir,” said Perth, pointing to the bloody face of Little; “he’s almost killed himself.”

“Are you hurt, Little?” demanded Mr. Lowington, rushing forward when he discovered what had happened.

“Yes, sir; almost killed,” groaned the poor boy, making the wryest face a boy ever made, and twisting himself into a contortion of body which none but an India-rubber youth like himself could have accomplished.

“Pass the word for Dr. Winstock,” added the principal, anxiously.  “Are you much injured, Mr. Hamblin?”

“I believe there is a conspiracy to take my life,” growled the professor, without replying to the direct question.

“Are you hurt, sir?”

“Not so much in body as in my feelings,” answered Mr. Hamblin, holding out his damaged hat.  “It was done on purpose, sir.”

Dr. Winstock now appeared on the forecastle, and as Little seemed to be the greater sufferer, he attended to his case first.  He examined the face of the boy, for by the most assiduous rubbing with his right hand while his left was devoted to the hip, he had contrived to besmear his face all over with the blood which flowed freely from his nose.  The surgeon could find no wound on the face, and it was plain that there was nothing more terrible about the head than the nosebleed.

“Where are you hurt, Little?” asked the doctor.

“In the hip; it’s broke!” replied the sufferer with an explosive groan.

Dr. Winstock laid the patient down upon the deck, and proceeded to examine him with the greatest care.  He declared that no bones were broken.

“He appears to be suffering great pain,” said the principal, anxiously.

“He has probably wrenched a muscle in his fall, and that is almost as painful as a broken bone.  He has received no serious injury,” replied the doctor, as he lifted the patient from the deck.

“I am glad it is no worse.  How did it happen, Little?”

“I was coming in from the weather yard-arm, sir.  I should have gone down the leech of the foresail if you had not told me not to, sir.  O!” gasped Little, distorting his face, and doubling up his lithe little body.

“Never mind it now,” added the principal, kindly.

“I feel a little better, sir.  Mr. Hamblin began to say something to the fellows on deck, and I stopped to listen.  O!”-and Little doubled up again.  “I caught hold of the clew-garnet, sir-O!  I was leaning down to hear what Mr. Hamblin said, and bore my whole weight on the clew-garnet.  It wasn’t belayed, sir,-O!-and it let me down.”

Mr. Lowington desired to know what hands were stationed at the fore clew-garnets; but when they appeared, they were very confident they had belayed these ropes as usual.  Little was advised to go below and turn in; but he preferred to remain on deck.  As soon as the principal and the doctor had gone aft, the young reprobate turned to his companions, put his thumb to his bloody nose, and wiggled his fingers.  Indeed, a remarkable cure seemed suddenly to have been wrought in his particular case; for he walked as nimbly as ever, until some of the officers came forward, when, unfortunately, he had a sudden relapse, from which he did not recover-when the “powers that be” were around-for several days.

After supper Paul was sent for, and repaired to the main cabin, where he found the principal, the surgeon, Mr. Hamblin, and several of the professors.  Mr. Lowington stated the charge preferred against Captain Kendall, mentioning the evidence in support of it.  He then inquired of the professor if he had anything to add to what he had already said on the subject.

Mr. Hamblin had something to add, but it was in the nature of an argument against the accused, rather than a statement of fact.  He reviewed his life on board the Josephine since the troubles had commenced, enlarging upon the zeal with which he had discharged his duties.  He gave his view of the difficulty between himself and the captain, as he had given it before; but he adduced no new proofs of the charges he preferred.

“The only question before us at the present time, Mr. Hamblin, is in regard to the authorship of the letter purporting to come from Monsieur Rogier,” interposed Mr. Lowington.  “Have you any new evidence to bring forward?”

“No, sir; I think the charge has been fully proved,” replied Mr. Hamblin.

“Captain Kendall, if you have any defence to make, I am ready to hear it,” added the principal, turning to Paul.

“I did not write the letter, and I had no knowledge whatever of it until Mr. Hamblin received it.  Perhaps the writing resembles mine, but not very much.  Will you let me take the letter, sir?”

The note was handed to him, and he pointed out several letters which were different from any in the exercises by which the similarity had been shown.

“Of course he would disguise the handwriting,” interposed Mr. Hamblin.

“The writing alone would not prove anything,” added Mr. Lowington.

“So far as the kind of paper is concerned,” continued Paul, picking up the half quire which the professor had taken from his state-room, “I bought it in Antwerp for a particular purpose.”  He did not think it necessary to state that it was for his letters to Miss Grace Arbuckle.

“Are you quite sure you bought it in Antwerp?” demanded the professor.

“I shall prove that I did,” replied Paul, indignantly.  “I wish to say I had a hint that the officers and crew were very much dissatisfied with Mr. Hamblin, and-”

“With me!” exclaimed the savant, as though it were quite impossible for the students to be dissatisfied with him.

“Allow Captain Kendall to make his statement, if you please,” said the principal.

“But, Mr. Lowington, his statement is incorrect.  I have been on the best of terms with the majority of my pupils.  Only a few of the worst of them have manifested any ill-will towards me.”

“Go on, Captain Kendall,” said the principal.

“I am prepared to prove all I say.  If I had known that this investigation was to take place to-day, I should have asked for the attendance of several witnesses.  I used all my influence to prevent any one from playing practical jokes upon Mr. Hamblin.  I desire to have the first lieutenant of the Josephine, and Duncan, examined.”

“What have they to do with it?” asked the professor, impatiently.

“After doing what I could to prevent others from annoying Mr. Hamblin by practical jokes, it is not likely that I should indulge in them myself.”

“That is a good point; and to-morrow the witnesses shall be called,” said Mr. Lowington.

“I will now ask Dr. Winstock to make his statement,” added Paul, turning to the surgeon.

“The letter is postmarked ‘Anvers,’” said the doctor, picking up the letter from the table.  “It is utterly impossible that Captain Kendall had anything to do with this document.”

“Why so, sir?” demanded Mr. Hamblin, nervously.

“This letter passed through the Antwerp post-office.  If Captain Kendall had mailed it there, I should have seen him do it.  He was not out of my sight a single moment from the time we left the Josephine till we returned to her.  This paper,” added the doctor, taking up the half quire, “was purchased in Antwerp.  I went into the shop with Captain Kendall, and looked at the quality of it before it was done up.”

“Are you satisfied, Mr. Hamblin?” asked the principal.

“No, sir, I am not,” replied the professor, decidedly.  “I am by no means certain that the paper on which this letter was written was obtained in Antwerp.  It does not follow because Dr. Winstock did not see Mr. Kendall mail this letter, that it was not mailed by him.  I did not see him mail it; Mr. Lowington did not see him mail it.  He could have sent it to the post-office by a dozen of his confederates.”

“Since Captain Kendall desires that the first lieutenant and Duncan should be heard, we will continue the examination till to-morrow,” added the principal, rising from his chair.

The hearing was adjourned, and Paul returned to his room.