ss. It was an insult to them,
an insult to their parents, and an outrage upon humanity in general. It
was not to be endured, and rebellion was a duty. Little's plan was in
higher favor than ever.

The wind was light, and the vessel, close-hauled, made but five and six
knots during the day. At night she was out of sight of land. All day
Sunday she made but little progress, and lay in a calm for several
hours. Towards night, however, a fresh westerly wind came to her aid,
and on Monday morning the crew saw the mountains of Europe and Africa
vying with each other in sublimity, though they were too sour to
appreciate the grandeur of the scene. The vessel hugged the Spanish
shore, and Perth was on the lookout for an opportunity to spring the
trap; but the sea was so rough and choppy, and the current so swift,
that he was not willing to embark in the boats. It looked altogether
too perilous. Besides, Bitts did not lean against the mast and go to
sleep, and Cleats sent a hand down to bring up his luncheon, and the
vice-principal staid on deck nearly all night.

"I think Fluxion smells a mice," said Perth, the next day.

"Why so?" asked Little.

"Because he stays on deck more than half the night."

"He is anxious about the navigation, perhaps."

"It is plain sailing here," added Perth. "I think he has seen our
fellows talking together a great deal."

That was really the case. The vice-principal understood boys
thoroughly. He had observed the earnest talks among little squads, and
cautioned the acting officers to be very vigilant. It is enough to say
that no opportunity was presented for carrying out the scheme of
Little, and the Josephine came to anchor in the harbor of Genoa, ten
days after she sailed from Brest. If the runaways had been in a proper
frame of mind to enjoy it, there was a great deal to be seen; but they
were too much taken up with their grievances to appreciate strange
sights or beautiful scenery.

As soon as the schooner came to anchor, three of the four boats were
hauled in, and lowered to the deck, where they were turned over to be
painted. Bitts and Gage rowed the vice-principal ashore, while Peaks
and Cleats, laying aside the dignity of their temporary positions, went
to work scraping and painting the bottoms of the boats, which seemed to
have been removed from the davits solely for the purpose of preventing
any of the crew from escaping. Mr. Fluxion was absent only an hour, and
during his absenc