h
he felt it his duty to see a spot so noted in history--it was so
effective, before a class of students, to be able to say he had seen the
place alluded to in the text-book. He was, in fact, more concerned to
know what Mr. Lowington's decision was, and he was waiting impatiently
for an interview with him.

"The old hunks is too mean for the Josephines, and he has been quartered
upon us!" exclaimed Wilton, as the professor descended to the main deck.
"The fellows in the consort say he is as grouty as a mud turtle, and as
crabbed as an owl at noonday. He snubs every one that makes a blunder,
and rips at the class half the time."

"They say Lowington don't like him much better than the fellows do,"
added Perth.

It would be difficult to explain how any of the students had reached
this conclusion; but it is certain that boys understand their guardians
and instructors much better than the latter generally suppose.

"Perth, I think we might as well have our liberty stopped for serving
out Old Crabs, as for anything else," suggested Wilton.

"I'm willing; the Knights will do that job handsomely, you may bet your
life."

"But we musn't get caught too soon."

"We work in the dark, and we can do the thing as well as the Josephines
did."

"Let's study up something at once, and put him through a course of
sprouts. I don't believe in tolerating a professor who was too mean for
the Josephine," replied Wilton, shaking his head, as though a personal
indignity had been put upon him.

"All right; we will be ready as soon as he is. What's the row on deck?"
continued Perth, rising from his seat, as a group of students gathered
in the rigging, and on such elevations as would enable them to see over
the bulwarks.

"Only one of Mapps's long yarns," answered Wilton.

"I'm going down to see what it is."

Perth went down, but Wilton had not the slightest interest in anything
Mr. Mapps had to say; and he stretched himself on the jib, which had
been cast loose ready to hoist, in case it should be required.

"This is the place where the Duke of Parma built his great bridge over
the Scheldt," said the professor of history, as the students gathered
around him.

"What did he build the bridge for?" asked one of them.

"In order to close the navigation of the river, and thus prevent the
people of Antwerp from obtaining provisions, which came to them from
Holland. When the Prince of Orange was assassinated, the Duke of Parma
was mak