f a yacht cruise up the Baltic, and up the Mediterranean.
Shuffles had not been so fortunate as Paul in finding needy graduates
of the Academy to officer his yacht, and a fat old shipmaster served
as first officer in the Feodora, while the second mate was a young
tar, not yet of age. Having paid their respects to the principal, the
young couple returned to the boat, and followed Paul to the hotel on
shore.

"That's the way to go about Europe," said Sanford, who was sitting on
the rail with several of his shipmates.

"What's the way?" asked Stockwell.

"Why, as Kendall and Shuffles do it--in a yacht, with no Latin and
geometry to bother their heads, and no decks to wash down on a cold
morning."

"That's so; but those fellows were the lambs of the squadron, we are
told," laughed Stockwell. "They didn't have black marks; didn't pick
upon the professors, and didn't run away from the ship."

"What has all that to do with yachting?" asked Rodman.

"They were good boys, and therefore they have yachts as their
reward," replied Stockwell, laughing.

"Pelham was as good as Shuffles, but he has no yacht, and has to work
on a salary for his living."

"He has the fun of it all the same, and Paul Kendall will not overwork
him. But I haven't a word to say against them. They were all good
fellows, if they were the ship's lambs."

"All the second cutters!" shouted the boatswain's mate, after his pipe
had sounded through the ship.

"That means us," said Sanford. "Take your money and pea-jackets,
fellows. Something may turn up before we come back."

"Ay, ay," replied Stockwell. "Pass the word to all our fellows."

In a few moments the fourth cutters appeared in the waist, with
pea-jackets on their arms, and touched their caps to De Forrest, the
fourth lieutenant, who appeared as the officer detailed to go in the
boat, which now, as formally, was called the professors' barge,
because it was generally appropriated to the use of the instructors.
It was pulled by eight oarsmen, and Sanford was the coxswain. The
party who had been considering the plan for an independent excursion
on shore without incurring the perils and penalties of running away,
were the crew of the second cutter. The fact of being together so much
in the boat, had united them so that they acted and plotted in
concert.

"What are you going to do with those pea-jackets?" asked De Forrest,
when he saw their extra clothing.

"It's rather chilly up here in the