Up The Baltic Part 12

In a few moments every officer and seaman was at his station for the manoeuvre indicated by the call. The students, aware that they were simply to "show off," were fully determined to astonish the wondering crowd on the decks.

"Stand by to lay aloft, the ready-men!" shouted the first lieutenant, as he received the order from the captain.

It was repeated by the second lieutenant on the forecastle, the third in the waist, and the fourth on the quarter-deck.

"All ready, sir!" reported the several officers.

"Lay aloft!"

At the command those whose duty it was to prepare the sails and rigging for the manoeuvre sprang up the rigging, and in three minutes the midshipman aloft reported that all was ready.

"Lay aloft, sail-loosers!" continued the first lieutenant.

The seamen, who were arranged in proper order on deck, the royal yard men first, then those who belonged on the top-gallant yards, the topsail, and the lower yards, placed in succession, so that each could reach his station without pa.s.sing others, leaped into the rigging, and went up like so many cats.

"Man the boom tricing-lines!"

These are ropes by which the studding-sail booms, which lie on the yards, are hauled up out of the way.

"Trice up!"

The studding-sail booms were drawn up.

"Lay out! Loose sails!"

The hands jumped upon the foot-ropes, and worked themselves out to their places on the yards, where they loosed the sails, overhauled the rigging, and made everything ready for the final evolution. The midshipman in the tops reported to the officers on deck when the preparations were completed, and the lieutenants on deck, in their turn, reported to the first lieutenant.

"Let fall!" said the executive officer; and all, as one, the sails dropped from the yards.

The precision of the movement called forth a demonstration of applause from the visitors. Mr. Clyde Blacklock stood with his mouth open, looking up at the students on the yards, but occasionally glancing at the "swellish" first lieutenant, who seemed to be the master-spirit of the occasion, because he spoke in a loud voice, while the captain, who really controlled the evolutions, could hardly be heard, except by the executive officer, to whom alone his order was given.

"Lay in! Lay down from aloft!" said the first lieutenant; and in a moment more all hands were on deck again.

"Do you ever man the yards, sir?" asked a gentleman of the princ.i.p.al.

"Occasionally, sir--not often. You are aware that it requires some preparation, for we are obliged to extend life-lines over the yards,"

replied Mr. Lowington. "We are not in condition to do it now. If we should happen to be visited by the king at Copenhagen or Stockholm, and had previous notice, we should certainly do it."

The crew were then required to go through the manoeuvre of furling sails, which was performed with the same precision as the first evolution, and to the great satisfaction of the guests, who were then invited to visit the cabins and steerage of the ship.

"Mother, I like this thing," said Mr. Clyde Blacklock.

"It's all very, _very_ fine, Clyde," replied the tender mother.

"And the ship's going up the Baltic, and then up the Mediterranean."

"Yes, Clyde."

"And I want to go in her."

"You, Clyde!"

"Yes, that's what I say."

"And be a sailor?"

"I always told you I wanted to be a sailor. Didn't that head master, or whatever he is, say it would do me good to go to sea?"

"Perhaps he did, but I can't go with you, my dear."

"I don't want you to go with me. I'm not a baby!" protested the indignant youth.

"But you are my only son, dear."

"If you had forty only sons, it would be all the same to me. I say I want to go in this ship, and be a sailor."

Mrs. Blacklock was appalled, and was sorely disturbed by the announcement of her son. The young gentleman insisted that he should be entered at once as a member of the ship's company. He suggested to his anxious mother that she could travel by land while he went by sea, and that she could see him every time the ship went into port. The lady appeared to see no alternative, but evidently felt compelled to yield to her son's demand. It was plain enough, even to a casual observer, that Clyde was the head of the family. Mrs. Blacklock promised to speak to the princ.i.p.al, but she hoped he would not be able to take her son. Before she had an opportunity to make the application, the Orlando's bell rang for her pa.s.sengers to return. The sound seemed to be a relief to the lady; but Mr. Clyde put his foot down just there, and upset all her hopes.

"Come, Clyde; the Orlando is ready to go," said she.

"Let her go," replied the hopeful son.

"But we must go on board."

"You may go. I'm off to sea in this ship."

"Not now, my dear," pleaded Mrs. Blacklock.

"Now's the time. If you don't speak to that head master yourself, I shall do so."

"Not now, my dearest boy. This ship is going to Christiania, and we will speak to the gentleman on the subject when she arrives. Come, Clyde; the boat is waiting for us, and all the other pa.s.sengers have gone."

"You can't fool me, mother. I'm going to sea now. I like this ship, and I rather like those swells of officers."

Clyde positively refused to leave the ship, though his mother, almost in tears, begged him to accompany her.

"My son won't go with me," said she, as Mr. Lowington came towards her to ascertain the cause of their delay.

"If you desire, madam, the boatswain will put him into the boat for you," replied the princ.i.p.al.

"Put me into the boat!" exclaimed the indignant youth. "I should be glad to see him do it!"

"Should you? Peaks!"

"On deck, sir," replied the big boatswain, touching his cap to the princ.i.p.al.

"Pray, don't, sir--don't!" begged the lady. "Clyde wants to go to sea in your ship."