" replied Mr. Hamblin,
whose dignity was terribly damaged by the incident of the afternoon.

"Well, Mr. Hamblin, I wish to be respectful; but I also mean to be
candid. I feel compelled to say that I believe you are all wrong."

"All wrong, sir!"

"Yes, sir; all wrong. Look at the question for one moment."

"I don't wish to look at it. Between teacher and pupil there can be no
issues of any kind. It is my place to command, my scholar's to obey, in
the school-room."

"Now, really, Mr. Hamblin," continued the laughing professor, rubbing
his hands, as though he enjoyed the controversy, "while I agree with you
on the general principle, I must differ from you in its application to
this particular case. Your pupil is the commander of the vessel. Our
very lives depend upon his prudence and skill. It was necessary to take
in sail."

"Very well. Wasn't half the crew on deck for that purpose?" interposed
Mr. Hamblin.

"But who shall determine whether it is necessary or not to take in
sail?"

"The officer who has the care of the vessel for the time being, of
course. Then there are Mr. Cleats, and Mr. Gage, and the servants to
help them reduce the sails, if needed. There is not the least necessity
for disturbing the classes."

"But no one except the captain can give the order to take in a single
sail in the daytime. This vessel is under naval discipline, you are
aware; but I think you cannot have read the rules. Here they are," added
Mr. Stoute, taking the printed regulations of the ship from his pocket.
"Officer of the Deck. He is not to make or take in sail in the daytime,
except in a squall, without directions from the captain; but in the
night he may take in sail, acquainting the captain with his reasons,
which he must enter on the log."

"Well, this is a squall--isn't it?" growled Mr. Hamblin.

"Perhaps it will be; but it seems to me quite proper that the captain
should go on deck when there is any danger. For my part, I have some
regard for my fat body, and I don't care about leaving it here at the
bottom of the German Ocean," chuckled Mr. Stoute; and he always laughed
with especial gusto when he had said anything which he thought was
funny. "The captain can leave any of my classes when he is sent for to
look out for the vessel."

"Mr. Stoute, this is a question of discipline; and higher considerations
than those of merely personal comfort and security should be brought to
bear upon it. It would be impossible f