The small boys, pale with fright and dazed by the suddenness of the
accident, sat for a moment unable to move or cry out. Then by a sudden
wild impulse Parson sprang boldly into the water, followed in a second
or two first by Telson, then by Lawkins. The other three held to the
oars and waited where they were.

The tide was running down at a good pace, and the river was fairly wide,
but there was not much danger to any of the immersed ones. All
Willoughby boys could swim, and as Mr Parrett had taught most of them
to do so himself, he hardly stood in need of the help of his three
pupils. A few strokes brought them all to the bank in safety.

An uncomfortable moment ensued. Mr Parrett said nothing to the three
dripping boys who stood before him, but called to the boys in the boat
to row in, bringing the skiff with them.

All the while this was being done, Telson and Parson looked despairingly
at one another, and darted scared looks at Mr Parrett. He appeared not
to notice them, but stood impatiently waiting for the boats.

"Is the scull broken?" he called out as they approached.

"No, sir," said Wakefield.

The skiff was put in close to the bank, and a brief examination showed
that it was not damaged. Mr Parrett got into it, and without saying a
word began to push off.

"Please, sir," cried Parson at this point, feeling that his last chance
was going, "I'm so sorry. We didn't know it was you, sir. It was all
my fault."

"No, sir," shouted Telson, "it was all my fault. We're awfully sorry,
sir."

Mr Parrett took no notice of these protestations, but said, quietly,
"You'd better get home quickly and change your things."

So saying he sculled off, with a face hardly less puzzled than the small
scared faces which, after watching him go, turned dismally to their own
unlucky Noah's Ark.

On their arrival at the school some half-hour later, Parson, Telson,
Bosher, King, and Lawkins were informed that, having been reported for
being absent at call-over, the captain wished to see them in his study
after breakfast the next morning.

Later on that same evening another notice reached them that they were
wanted in Mr Parrett's room at once.

CHAPTER SIX.

BREAKERS AHEAD.

Mr Parrett was a popular master at Willoughby. He was an old Cambridge
"blue," and it was to his influence and example that the school in
general, and Parrett's house in particular, were chiefly indebted for
their excellence in al