Outward Bound | Page 6

once. He waited for
an overt act; but Shuffles found the anaconda of authority tightening
upon him. He attempted to vindicate himself before his fellow-students
by setting fire to a haystack on the marsh, belonging to the new
principal. A searching investigation followed, and Shuffles was
convicted. Mr. Lowington wrote to the boy's father, announcing his
expulsion. Mr. Shuffles went to Brockway full of wrath, and threatened
the new head of the institution with the loss of a large number of his
scholars if he disgraced his son by expelling him. If the boy had done
wrong,--and he supposed he had,--let him be talked to; let him be
confined to his room for a day or two; but he must not be expelled; it
was a disgrace to the boy.
The principal was as firm as a rock, and Mr. Shuffles was calm when
he found that threats were unavailing. Mr. Lowington pointed out to his
visitor the perils which lay in the path of his son. Mr. Shuffles began to
be reasonable, and dined with the principal. A long and earnest

consideration of the whole matter took place over the dessert. The fiat
of expulsion was revoked, and young Shuffles was turned over to the
ex-naval officer, with full power to discipline him as he thought best.
Mr. Lowington had converted the father, and he hoped he should be
able to convert the son.
After dinner, Mr. Shuffles went down the bay with his host in the yacht.
On the way they passed the school ship Massachusetts, to which boys
are sentenced by the courts for crime and vagrancy, and on board of
which they are disciplined and educated. Mr. Lowington explained the
institution to his guest.
"An excellent idea," said Mr. Shuffles.
"It is just the place for your son," replied Mr. Lowington.
"But it is for criminals."
"Very true."
"Robert is not a criminal."
"If he is not now, he soon will be, if he continues in his present course.
If I had him on shipboard, I could make a man of him."
"Then I wish you had him on shipboard."
"Perhaps I may yet," replied the principal, with a smile. "I did not
purchase the Academy with the intention of becoming a pedagogue, in
the ordinary sense of the word. I have no intention of remaining in it."
"I hope you will."
"I have been thinking of fitting up a vessel like the school ship, that
rich men's sons may have the benefit of such an institution without the
necessity of committing a crime. I could do more for the boys in a
month on board ship than I could in a year at Brockway."
This was the first mention which Mr. Lowington made of his plan,

though he had been considering it for several weeks. Mr. Shuffles
hoped that this idea of a nautical academy would be reduced to practice;
for he now felt that it was just what his son needed. The project was
discussed during the rest of the trip.
The history of the scheme, from its inception, need not be followed in
detail. Many persons were consulted in regard to it; there were plenty to
approve, and plenty to disapprove; but in October the keel of a four
hundred ton ship was laid down. The object of this marine institution
was thoroughly explained, and before the ship was ready for launching
there were applications for every berth on board of her.
The idea was exceedingly popular among the boys, all of whom were
anxious to be students on board, especially as it was already hinted that
the ship would visit Europe. To parents it held out for their sons all the
benefits of a sea voyage, with few of its disadvantages. It would furnish
healthy exercise and a vigorous constitution to its pupils.
In March of the following year the ship was at anchor in Brockway
harbor, ready to receive her juvenile crew.
CHAPTER II.
THE YOUNG AMERICA.
With Mr. Lowington, the Academy Ship, which was the name he
usually applied to the idea he had matured, and thus far carried into
effect, was not a speculation; he did not intend to see how much money
could be made by the scheme. It was an experiment in the education of
rich men's sons, for only rich men could pay for scholarships in such an
expensive institution.
The Brockway Academy was to be continued, under the management
of a board of trustees. An accomplished teacher had been selected by
Mr. Lowington, and the school, under its present administration, was in
a highly prosperous condition. Only ten of its pupils had been
transferred to the Academy Ship, for it required no little nerve on the
part of parents to send their sons to school on the