CHAPTER XIII.

THE ARRIVAL OF MICHAEL ANGELO SPICKLES.

The bell on the dormitory was rung at the regular hour, and every thing went on as usual at the school. Captain Gildrock had started out all the officers in Genverres to hunt down the burglars. The engineer and the carpenter had the start of them, but at breakfast-time nothing had been heard from them. It was Saturday, and the regular sessions of the school were suspended on that day; but the order had been given for all the students to assemble in the schoolroom at eight o'clock.

The excitement had almost entirely subsided, and the only thing that disturbed the principal was the continued absence of Dory. But Mr. Jepson and Mr. Brookbine had gone in search of him, and it did not appear that any thing else could be done. Mrs. Dornwood and Marian were very anxious about him; and as soon as it appeared that the storm had subsided, the captain promised to send out all the steamers and sailing-craft to explore the lake and the eastern shore.

At the appointed hour all the students were in their places, some of them expecting to hear the principal speak of the burglary, though the old scholars were not of this number. If there was any exciting topic not connected with the school current on the premises, Captain Gildrock usually ignored it. He made the work of the school the main topic, and never put the routine aside unless for sufficient reasons.

"As the season opens, we are to make the sailing of boats the principal object of study and practice," the principal began, much to the disappointment of many of the students, who wanted to know what he thought about the burglary. "This matter has always been attended to more or less, though we have never given it special attention till this season.

"While we shall be obliged to confine our practice in sailing to small craft, I shall give you some idea of the management of larger craft. In one of the palaces in St. Petersburg, there is a mast set up, and fully sparred and rigged, for the instruction of the young Grand Dukes in seamanship. From this model they learn all the details of the spars, rigging, and sails; and having learned it on one mast, they apply it to any other.

"I have already given this information so far as it could be done in a lecture illustrated with drawings. You have studied these drawings, and you ought to know the names and uses of the principal pieces of rigging. I gave you the system by which the names are applied; and at the time of it, you seemed to have mastered the subject, though you have doubtless forgotten some of the details.

"But this is not a study-hour, and perhaps it would be better for me to answer questions, of which you seem to have a full supply on hand at all times. At any rate, I shall ascertain what you wish to know on this subject."

Lon Dorset raised his hand, and the principal indicated by a nod that he might proceed. All eyes were directed towards him.

"I wish to know if there is ever a square-sail rigged with a gaff on the mizzen-mast of a brig, above the spanker,--a sail set like the mainsail of a schooner?" asked the inquirer.

"On which mast?" asked the principal; and there was something like a suppressed laugh among the old sailors of the school.

"The mizzen-mast, sir," replied Lon confidently.

The old sailors laughed out loud, for it was rather a pleasure to trip up any one in a nautical blunder.

"There is no such mast in a brig," added Captain Gildrock.

"I beg your pardon, sir; but you told us, in the lecture you gave us on the different rigs of vessels, that a brig had two masts,--the main and the mizzen," continued Lon, picking up his note-book, and hastily turning the leaves.

"I think not, Dorset," said the principal with a smile. "I know better than that, and I should not be likely to say such a thing."

"Here it is, just as I wrote it down at the time of it," persisted Lon. "I didn't know any thing at all about such vessels, and I should not have been likely to put down what you didn't say. 'In a vessel with two masts, the terms are main and mizzen.'"

About a dozen others began to turn the leaves of their note-books, and then Dolly Woodford raised his hand. The principal nodded to him.

"I have it down in the same way," said Dolly.

"So have I," added Sam Spottwood.

"Main and mizzen," followed Chick Penny, reading from his book.

Half a dozen of the students said the same thing, after consulting their notes taken on the spot.

"I have it so, sir; and I thought it was a mistake. I was going to ask you about it, but I did not get a chance to do so," said Dick Short.

"I shall have to give it up," replied the principal; "and I cheerfully acknowledge that you are right, and I am wrong. I must have said so, since you prove that I did. A person sometimes says a thing exactly opposite from what he means. I must ask you to correct the record, and write it down, that, in a vessel with two masts, the terms are fore and main. You mean a square-sail above the spanker on the mainmast of a brig; though you are not responsible for making it the mizzen, Dorset."

"Yes, sir. I saw a picture in an old book with such a sail on the mainmast," replied the student.

"I have seen such a sail once or twice in my life at sea; but it is not common, especially at the present day. The ordinary gaff-topsail, if any sail is to be set above the spanker on a brig, could present quite as much surface, and be more easily handled."

Another student raised his hand, and the principal was going to give him permission to speak, when the door of the schoolroom was opened, and Mr. Brookbine, rifle in hand, and leading Mr. Michael Angelo Spickles by the arm, marched into the room. He made his way directly to the platform where the captain stood. Of course, this arrival made a decided sensation among the students, though they did not indulge in any demonstration.

"I beg your pardon, Captain Gildrock, for bringing this gentleman here, but I could not find any one below to take charge of him while I sent for you," said the master-carpenter; for he knew that the principal did not like any thing sensational in the presence of the students.

"You are excusable under the circumstances, Mr. Brookbine," replied the captain. "Very likely the students will be glad to see the gentleman, if that is what you call him."

"I suppose that is what he calls himself."

"But where is Dory, Mr. Brookbine?" asked the principal, with more anxiety in his tones than he was in the habit of displaying when any thing troubled him.

"He is all right, sir. He has gone with Mr. Jepson to follow this matter up a little further," replied the carpenter.

Captain Gildrock smiled, for his anxiety was relieved. He turned from the instructor to the prisoner he had brought, and whose face he had not noticed before. Possibly it was to some extent an affectation for him to appear to be unmoved, whatever happened; and he had hardly noticed the carpenter and his prisoner when they entered the room.

"Good-morning, Mr. Spickles. I see that you have done me the honor to call again, and I shall endeavor to appreciate your courtesy," said the captain, when he recognized his visitor of the day before.

"I did not come of my own accord this time, and no compliments are in order," growled Spickles.

"This visit is quite unexpected. I remember that you seemed to feel a lively interest in my safe in the office; and you have proved to your satisfaction that it is not a wooden one," continued Captain Gildrock. "I must confess that I am greatly surprised to find a young gentleman with your brilliant ideas engaged in blowing open safes."

"Here is a pocket-book which was taken from him," interposed the carpenter, as he handed it to the principal. "I did not tell you that this was the chief of the burglars, but such is the fact."

The captain opened the pocket-book, and took the wet bills from it.

"These were the bills in the safe, without any doubt; and I am fortunate to recover them. Every dollar stolen is here. You have made a bad investment, Mr. Spickles."

"The storm was against my side of the question. If it had not been for that, you would never have seen your money again," muttered Spickles, who appeared to think that an apology for his failure was due.

"Then, I ought to be grateful for the storm," added the principal. "I suppose the young gentleman who called with you yesterday assisted you in this delicate operation."

"I don't answer questions," growled the burglar.

"Perhaps Mr. Brookbine will be more communicative," said the captain, turning to the instructor in carpentry.

"I don't know much about the others, only from what Dory said to me. He told me about his dealings with these fellows; and as usual, he has acted like a hero," replied the instructor.

At this remark, there was a burst of applause, and all the students manifested the most intense interest in the proceedings. The principal looked at them, and perhaps he thought it would be cruel not to gratify their excited curiosity to know the particulars of the capture of the burglar.

"Mr. Spickles will be more comfortable if you remove the cords that bind him; and I will invite him to take a seat on the platform by my side," continued Captain Gildrock, as he placed a chair for the culprit. "I trust he will not make it necessary for me to put my hands upon him."

Mr. Brookbine released the prisoner, and put him in the chair assigned to him. If he thought of escaping, the stalwart forms of the principal and the master-carpenter were sufficiently formidable to intimidate him. Mr. Brookbine was then invited to explain what had happened during his absence, and to do it so that all the students could hear him. The boys were delighted at this unexpected privilege, and they listened with the deepest interest to the narrative of Dory's doings since he left the school early in the morning. When the result of his battle in the boat with the chief was reached, the students applauded lustily, and the principal did not check them. With only a little less dignity he would have done the same himself.

"Then, Dory has gone to look after the schooner, has he?" asked Captain Gildrock, when the narrative was finished.

"Yes, sir: he and Mr. Jepson left me, to attend to this matter."

"I hope they don't intend to capture the schooner," added the principal, with a smile. "Dory is a prudent young man, and I don't expect him to undertake any Munchausen adventures."

"He said he was going to watch the schooner: he did not say he intended to capture the vessel," replied the carpenter.

"How many persons were there on board of the schooner, Randolph?" asked the principal.

"Five in all, all members of the Nautifelers Club," replied Matt.

"The Nautifelers Club will not exist much longer. Under the present circumstances, we will defer the lecture on sailing to another day. The gale has subsided, and we will attend to the practical part of the lesson. Randolph, you will take your class in the Lily; Glovering, you may take Dory's class in his absence; the rest of you will man the two steamers."

This announcement was received with applause, and Mr. Brookbine was instructed to take his prisoner to the lock-up.