Oliver Optic

“ Perhaps I am not too late, for I had some ideas about a plan."
"We are not allowed to speak to anyone about the plans," answered Dory. "Every fellow is put on his honor to say nothing to anyone about them."
"Then the eight fellows that object to being dressed like monkeys are to be shut out from the competition!" exclaimed Life indignantly. "That is about as unfair as anything can be."
"You had the same chance that the rest of us had, and you chose to stay in your room rather than hear the terms on which the prizes were to be given." ”

“ Your students have been the aggressors in every instance."
"Silence is sometimes more insulting than speech, than even offensive speech," replied the colonel proudly.
"Your views differ very essentially from mine, Colonel Buckmill, and it is hardly worth while to attempt to reconcile them," continued Captain Gildrock. "You are on one side of the lake and I am on the other, and there is not the least occasion for any collision between us, or between our students. If your boys will let mine alone, I will agree to keep the peace." ”

“ It was a very neat dress, and most of the boys were pleased with it.
"Where is your uniform, Life?" asked Dory of the strike oarsman of the Winooski, as they were about to enter the school and shop building.
"I don't intend to wear any uniform," replied Life Windham. "I am not a monkey, a soldier, or a policeman."
"As the rest of us are neither soldiers nor policemen, I suppose you regard us as monkeys," added Dory, laughing. ”

“ With eighteen we should be in one another's way."
"Ten only will go," said Mr. Jepson decidedly.
"But who shall they be?" demanded Luke Bennington. "Every fellow wants to go and have a hand in the fun."
"There is where the difficulty comes in," added Matt. "I think Dory had better select his own crew; and for one, if I am elected to stay at home, I won't complain."
"You know very well that you will be elected to go, Matt," said Will Orwell.
"I don't like to select a crew; I wish all could go, and I shall be satisfied with any nine," interposed Dory. ”

“ Oscar Chester wanted to run down to the narrowest place on the outlet, and make an attack on the marauders; but both Matt and Dory were not in favor of such a plan.
"If we get desperate, and try to break things, those villains will smash the boats rather than let us get them. That Tom Topover is as mad as a March hare at the rap Dory gave him," said Matt.
"I think we had better report to Captain Gildrock, for I don't see that we can do anything here," suggested Dory, as he gazed sadly at the retreating barges. ”

“ But they don't seem to know anything at all about a boat, and they think they can overhaul the Goldwing without any difficulty."
"If we run up this cove they will have us on the hips," replied Matt. "There are twenty-six of them, while we are only nine, and if they catch us they can have it all their own way."
"You are right, Matt, and we will not go up the cove. We will go up to Rock Harbor, and we can land the Topovers long before they can pull that distance."
The skipper let off the sheets, and headed the schooner to the south. ”

“ You don't know anything more about a boat than the rest of us," added one of the crew.
"I have nothing more to say," answered Wash Barker, with some show of dignity, as he left his seat at the tiller lines, and took another place. "Every fellow wants to be coxswain except me, and you may do what you please now."
Dory began to feel a higher degree of respect for the coxswain of the Dasher, and so did the rest of the crew of the Winooski. ”

“ If there was going to be a fight, they wanted to be equal in numbers to the enemy; and they felt that the older and heavier fellows of the other boat would make an even thing of it.
For this reason they were not in favor of following up the Chesterfields until they were reinforced by the Gildrocks. This was the view of several of the crew, but the majority, whatever their opinion, were entirely willing to leave the whole matter to the plucky but prudent coxswain. He had always brought them out of all difficulties, and they were more disposed to trust him than to depend upon themselves. ”

“ Mad said nothing more, but he picked up such of the clothes as were within his reach, and held them out in the direction of the Winooski. His crew followed his example, and Dory ran the barge near enough to receive them.
"That's all there are in this boat," said Mad Twinker.
"If you all move a little farther aft, the water won't run into your boat," said Dory in a quiet tone. "Here are five oars that belong to your boats. I have no further business with you to-day, unless we find some of our clothes are missing; and we wish you good evening." ”

“ Bolingbroke Millweed followed Oscar's example; then came Matt Randolph and Luke Bennington. It was the unselfish and brave thing to volunteer to stay at home, and no one was willing to stay behind in doing a good deed. In a moment more the whole seventeen had volunteered to remain at Beech Hill.
"I don't like to be alone, and I will join the crowd," exclaimed Dory, greatly amused at the situation. "We are just as badly off as we were in the beginning, and the Topovers are pulling down the river all the time. I will tell you how to settle the matter so that it shall be fair for all." ”

“ Those who have decided not to wear the uniform of the Beech Hill Industrial School may stand."
The eight rebels rose from their seats, and stood by the side of their desks. They held their heads up as though they meant to be manly and independent, and no doubt they felt so.
"I don't think you are quite fair, Captain Gildrock, not to hear what—"
"You are entitled to your own opinion. The eight boys who have decided not to wear the uniform will go to their rooms, and each remain in his own apartment until further orders," continued Captain Gildrock, in a very mild but decidedly firm tone. ”

“ If no one had been drowned or hurt in the collision, some people would have thought we were smart. If a single life had been lost, they would have said that the affair was nothing but a boys' frolic, and that we had no right to proceed to such an extreme measure as running into the barge half a mile from the shore," argued Dory. "Those fellows are not used to the water, and half a dozen of them might have been drowned. ”

“ But the Gildrocks were not far off, and their assistance could be had for the asking.
"Now, fellows, we must overhaul those boats," said Dory in his usual quiet tone, when he had decided not to return to Beech Hill in their present uniform.
"What are you going to do, Dory?" asked Ben Ludlow curiously; and the same question was on the lips of every member of the crew.
"I intend to do whatever it may be necessary to do. We are going after our clothes, and we must get them the best way we can," replied the coxswain.
"But suppose they won't give them to us?" suggested Life Windham. ”

“ As the Goldwing approached the south side of the inlet, Dory rounded to very carefully, so as not to swamp the Gildrock, though the terrified Topovers were well shaken up in the manœuvre. Running into the cove just far enough to escape the heaviest of the waves, Dory directed his crew [Pg 162] to haul on the tow-line, and bring the Gildrock within talking distance. Spilling the sail, he allowed the yacht to drift towards the shore.
"We intend to put you on shore here," shouted Dory to the occupants of the Gildrock.
"We can never get home from here," yelled Nim Splugger. ”

“ When she was within half a mile of it the second pilot, who was on duty, reported that the barges of the Chesterfields were coming out of the stream.
"I am sorry for that," said Dory Dornwood, as he went into the pilot-house to take a look at the approach of the boats.
"So am I," replied Oscar Chester. "I wish you were in command instead of Thad Glovering."
"Thad will do very well," answered Dory.
"Those fellows can't let us alone if they try. What's that? They have passengers in the stern sheets." ”

“ Life Windham chimed in. "The worst we can do is to refuse to wear the uniform; and we can't refuse before the clothes are given to us."
"By the way, did you fellows hear that the Chesterfield students have two barges like ours?" inquired Phil Gawner.
"I know they have, for I saw the kid-glovers out in them," replied Lick Milton.
"When did you see them, Lick?" asked Lew Shoreham.
"Day before yesterday. They were pulling in the barges near the shore."
"The rest of the fellows will go off without us if we don't hurry up," added Bart Cornwall. ”

“ The wind was northwest and blowing fresh, as on the day before, and it was dangerous for an unskilful crew to venture out on the lake. The lives of the reckless party would be in peril as well as the boats.
Dory had but a few moments to consider the matter. Matt Randolph and Oscar Chester were near him, out of breath after the run they had made. Tom Topover had retreated to the shore of the pond; and the coxswain of the Winooski, not wishing to engage in a fight, had neglected to follow him. Nim Splugger had taken command of the Gildrock, and Kidd Digfield of the Winooski. ”

“ I think I have heard no objection from anyone to the sailor rig worn on board of the Sylph."
"I think it is all right when we are on board of the steamer; but who wants to go about Genverres dressed up so that everybody will stop on the sidewalk to look at him?" replied Ben, who spoke confidently, as though he thought he had a first-rate argument.
"As those who have opinions are expected to express them, I must say I think Ludlow is right?" interposed Mr. Brookbine, the master-carpenter. "I believe that, for plain republicans, we are getting altogether too much uniform into our daily life. ”

“ Half the crew were required to shove her off before they took their places; but in a minute they were all afloat, wondering what the brisk coxswain intended to do.
"We can get warm if we can't do anything else," said Dory, as he took the tiller lines in his hands, "Up oars! Shove off! Let fall! Give way!" The last order was given when the boat had been shoved clear of the sands of the beach, and had come about so that it was headed out into the lake.
The unclothed rowers bent to their oars, and the Winooski began to spin through the water. ”

“ Doubtless the leader of the young ruffians was greatly astonished, not to say confounded, at this unexpected reception, for his historical studies had been neglected, and he had never heard of the Battle of Plattsburg, at least the particular one to which we refer.
Dory did not think it necessary to push the battle any farther at the present moment, though Tom instantly sprang to his feet, in spite of some confusion in his ideas. With one eye on his assailant, Dory retreated a few steps, and then resumed his march on the wharf. ”

“ All these sarcastic remarks were called forth by the appearance ahead of two barges, similar to those belonging to the Beech Hill school. They were very gaily painted, and, whatever their merits for speed and ability, they were quite as handsome as the Gildrock and Winooski.
"Twig the uniform!" exclaimed Ned Bellows.
"But that's only a boat uniform," replied Life Windham, who was one of the incipient rebels. "None of our fellows object to the uniform they wear on board of the Sylph." ”

“ The caisson was securely moored off the east end of the site by ropes leading to the shore. The boom of the derrick was "topped up" until it was perpendicular to the deck of the craft. Slings were rigged at the intersection of the three end posts with the plates, from which three lines came together at the foot of the middle post.
"Now, boys, we want three sailors," said Captain Gildrock, who attended personally to the rigging. "What they have to do may be considered dangerous in the country, though not more so than going upon the cross-trees of a ship, and I shall call for volunteers." ”

“ The students jumped to the conclusion that Dory would be made captain on the present occasion.
"The organization of the ship's company will remain just as it is," said Captain Gildrock. "You have learned to obey your officers even if you think you know more than they do; and this was a very valuable lesson to learn."
"It's Captain Dory Dornwood now, I suppose," suggested Life Windham, as all hands glanced at the first pilot.
"Not at all," replied the principal. "On sea steamers they don't have pilots, for the captain navigates the vessel. ”

“ The first class were now at work as carpenters, and the second as machinists.
"As soon as we have decided on the plans, all the students will be carpenters for a time," said Captain Gildrock, who explained his plans with considerable enthusiasm to the visitors. "I intend that the students shall do almost all the work of building the new boat-house, though I shall have laborers enough to do the lifting and digging."
"You have excellent tools and machinery in every department," suggested Mr. Plint, the architect.
"Good tools do a great deal towards making good workmen," replied the principal. ”

“ Life had to spend the afternoon by himself. Late in the day he saw Bob Swanton come out of the dormitory with the uniform on. He was just beginning to ask himself if he had not been a traitor to the "cause," and to the rebels engaged in it. He was glad to see one of them. Life was [Pg 197] pleased to have a companion, and they talked over the situation.
"Not the least notice seems to have been taken of us," said Swanton.
"Not the slightest," added Life. "Why, the principal did not even say a single word about us after we left the schoolroom, and has not mentioned us in any way." ”

“ When the students of the Collegiate Institute call us 'tinkers' 'greasy mechanics' or any other offensive names, they are blackguards," continued Dory.
"No doubt of that, the blackguards!" exclaimed Dick Short.
"Good! We proceed to call them 'dudes,' 'kid-glovers,' 'exquisites' and such terms, and straightway we become blackguards also."
"I don't think stealing and hitting back are the same thing," growled Ben Ludlow, who felt that he was thoroughly beaten in the argument. ”

“ Putting the helm of Goldwing up he allowed the yacht to gather headway by slow degrees. He had lassoed the barge, but he was not certain of the effect when he should attempt to tow her. The slip-noose had come home so that the knot was nearly in line with the stem.
"I see now what you are about," said Matt, while Dory was experimenting with the process of towing the barge. "But those fellows will cut the line as soon as they get a little used to the movement of the boat and understand what you are doing." ”