CHAPTER XXVI.

YOUNG AMERICA HOMEWARD BOUND.

“The professor did not say this used to be called ‘The Isle of Devils,’” said Dr. Winstock, when he seated himself in the stern-sheets of the captain’s gig, with Sheridan and Murray. “It was so called because it was such a terrible place for shipwrecks. But the science of navigation had not been carried to such perfection in those days as at present.”

“This is a queer old place,” said Murray, when he had obtained a view of the town.

“It is not a very progressive place; and things appear here pretty much as they did a hundred years ago. The houses are of the fashion of the past; and I have no doubt that some of them are over a century old. But this is a beautiful harbor; and you will be delighted when you get on the top of some hill, to see the panorama spread out before you. The views in the Bermudas are peculiar. The little islands look like so many green hillocks rising out of the water; and much of the scenery is quite rugged. There is an island off there, with a little white cottage upon it. For my part, I think there is nothing more lovely in the world; and if we could have the society of the States, as they call our country, I should spend the rest of my days here.”

The party landed from the boat, and Wainwright and Scott joined them. They walked into the town, taking a general view of it. The houses seem to be scattered about without any regard to order.

“This reminds me of the town of Gosport on the Isles of Shoals, before the hand of improvement touched it,” said the surgeon. “Every man built his house where he chose, without heeding any possibility of streets in the present or the future. Here is a pretty cottage with its front garden bordered by a laborer’s hovel. During our war a great deal of business was done here in blockade-running; but it don’t appear to be very driving in any thing now.”

A short time exhausted the streets, or rather lanes, of the town. It contains between two and three thousand inhabitants. The business men rarely live in either St. George or Hamilton, the only towns in the islands; but, when the work of the day is ended, they drive or sail away to their cottages on the islands.

All around St. George are forts to defend the only practicable entrance for large vessels to the interior sea, about twenty-five miles by ten, enclosed by the reefs, in which there are only a few openings, so intricate and dangerous that they can be navigated only by the most skilful pilots.

The doctor’s party walked to Cherry-stone Hill, about a mile from the town, which commanded a view of the islands to the eastward, the forts, and the harbor. They sat there for hours, enjoying the prospect of sea and land, and the delicious air of the place.

The next morning the entire squadron, in charge of the pilots, sailed for Hamilton, the capital, where the principal intended to remain for two or three weeks. On the passage, which is about fifteen miles around, through Grassy Bay and Great Sound, up to the head of a considerable inlet, where the capital is situated, the students obtained a full view of the dock-yard and floating-dock, which contained a large man-of-war at the time, and of the great store-houses. On the other side, near the shore, at the back of the town, was the governor’s house. Threading their way among the multitude of islands, the fleet reached its destination, and anchored in front of the town. It is built on the gentle slope of the hills; and, with its white-roofed buildings, presents a very neat and pretty appearance.

The students were permitted to go on shore as soon as every thing had been made snug on board the vessels. In half an hour more they were wandering through its streets. But there was really little in the place to see; and, as it contains only two thousand inhabitants, it was soon exhausted.

After dinner, the doctor and his party took carriages for a drive. Tom Speers and O’Hara, with Miss Louise, the Prince and his wife, formed another party. These excursions were repeated every afternoon for a week. They visited the southern part of the island of Bermuda, where a hill nearly four hundred feet high afforded them a magnificent view of Port Royal Bay and Great Sound, both sheets of water packed with islands. On some of them are the neat white cottages one sees all over the main islands. In the vicinity of Hamilton there are many more pretentious buildings; but these little country places are the charm of the landscape. Though some of these structures are very old, they seem to be in good repair; for there is no freezing in the winter to throw a building out of shape, or settle the foundation unequally in different places.

“I see they keep all sorts of animals tied up in this country,” said Murray, as the party were out on one of these drives. “There are some hens moored by the leg.”

“You see these little gardens in all parts of the islands. They are fenced in with oleander; but a couple of those hens could ruin the hopes of the gardener, after he has planted his onion-seed, or prepared his arrow-root plantation. For this reason all the domestic animals that live out doors are tied to keep them out of mischief,” replied the doctor. “Our first onions and tomatoes usually come from these islands.”

Sometimes the drive was taken in the opposite direction, towards St. George. Speare and Paynter Hills, in the vicinity of Harrington Sound, afforded the excursionists the desired views of the country. The sound is a beautiful sheet of water. The scenery all around it is enchanting; and there were any number of bowers in the dense growth of tropical trees and shrubs, which were full of interest to the wanderers from the sea.

There is no end of caves in the limestone rock; and caves are a positive glory to boys. Tom Moore lived for a time in this island, and wrote poetry, investing the locality with romance and sentiment; and Moore’s “calabash-tree” is still a favorite resort to the visitor. Devil’s Hole, or, more poetically, Neptune’s Grotto, is a rocky abyss filled with clear water, and has an underground connection with the sea.

“How full of fish it is!” exclaimed Sheridan, as he discovered that the water was alive with several varieties of fish.

“This is used to keep the fish caught in other waters, at the proper season, to be taken from this store-house when they are not available elsewhere,” answered the surgeon. “You will find a great many ponds in Bermuda applied to this use. You have observed how clear the water is.”

“Isn’t this a capital road?” said Wainwright, as the carriage moved on towards Hamilton.

“You will find such in all countries where the English people have lived long enough to make them. There are a hundred and fifty miles of these good hard roads in the twenty-four square miles of the Bermudas. You see they have to be cut through the rock in some places,” said the doctor, as the carriage passed through such a cutting, the walls on both sides being covered with vines, and with an abundance of plants growing out of the interstices.

Dr. Winstock botanized somewhat with those of his charge who had a taste for the study; and there was abundant material to illustrate the subject. The road all along from the Sound to Hamilton was bordered with flowers; and when the party stopped at a house, to look at its wealth of floral treasures, it was not unusual for the courteous inhabitants to come out, and invite them to enter the grounds, or to accept a hastily gathered bouquet. Indeed, nothing could exceed the courtesy and kindness of the people in town and country. They all seemed to be interested in the students, and especially in the ladies from the Ville d’Angers.

The excursions were not confined to those made in carriages. The students were roaming all over the islands, during the afternoons, which were wholly given up to sight-seeing. All could not afford carriages; and there were not enough of them to supply all, even if money had been plenty with them. Most of the boys walked; and in their rambles they had a deal of fun among themselves, and with the multitude of negroes that collected whenever the young tars were engaged in a frolic.

Quite as pleasant as the rides in the carriages were the excursions made in the boats of the fleet. On one occasion all the boats of the squadron, sixteen in number, made an excursion to the dock-yard. In the waters of Grassy Bay they gave an exhibition of the skill of the students in handling the cutters, which drew cheers of approbation from the naval officers and others who witnessed it. When the display was over, the boats’ crew visited the dock-yard, and one of the men-of-war in port. They were courteously shown all over the yard, and the operation of the floating-dock was explained to them.

On the last day of the month the fleet left the harbor of Hamilton, and sought an anchorage in a retired bay, about three miles from the town. Here the squadron was entirely landlocked, and the water was as smooth as a millpond. The four academical craft were moored alongside each other, so that the professors could pass from one to the others without the use of the boats. Early in the morning the examination was begun. It was continued for three days; but it was understood that the result would give the officers and students their positions for three months, instead of one as before; for such a thorough examination was not possible more than once in a quarter.

All the ambitious students had been at work very diligently for the last two months, preparing for this great event. Tom Speers and Capt. O’Hara had given very little time to frolic and sight-seeing during the time the fleet had been at the Bermudas; but had been studying night and day. The officers of the American Prince had not been so diligent; for most of them had held their positions so long that they felt almost sure of them in the future, whatever system of promotions might be adopted.

On the morning of the fourth day, all hands were mustered under the awnings on the deck of the American Prince to learn the result of the examination. The principal took the rostrum which had been built for this occasion; and an anxious silence followed his appearance. He held in his hand the paper on which the fate of every officer and seaman was written down.

“Young gentlemen,” Mr. Lowington began, “I am well aware that the changes proposed to-day will amount to a revolution. About the middle of the month, after the new crews of the several vessel have been trained to their duties under the different order of things, the squadron will sail for Brockway, the former headquarters of the fleet. When we have obtained a new register for the Ville d’Angers, she will be called the Frisbone.”

In spite of the anxiety that pervaded the audience of the principal, this announcement was received with the most tremendous applause. The Prince, who was present with his wife and Miss Louise, felt called upon to make a speech, acknowledging the honor conferred upon him. He would rather have his name on the stern of a vessel used for the purpose to which the “Frisbone” was to be applied, than on that of the biggest ocean steamer that could bear it to the most remote regions of the earth.

“The Frisbone will take the place of the Josephine and the Tritonia, after she has been properly fitted for the purpose. With the two steamers, which will not have to wait for any sailing-vessels, we may make a voyage around the world; for I intend to re-organize the squadron, on a much more extensive plan of study. But this will not be done till the end of the quarter upon which we have now begun.

“The Frisbone will now be officered in the same manner as the schooner, with a captain, four lieutenants, and four masters. The office of purser and midshipman on board of the Prince will be abolished, so that there will be only nine cabin officers on board of each vessel. The two engineers of the Frisbone will be relieved from further duty in that department. The Prince will have forty-eight petty officers and seamen, and each of the other vessels thirty-six. Since the late Commodore Cantwell left the academy squadron, the office he held has not been filled, for the reason that those who came out the highest preferred the more active position of captain. We shall in future dispense with this ornamental figure-head.

“In addition to the choice of offices, each student will be entitled to elect in which of the four vessels he will serve for the coming quarter, until the complements are complete. Some exchanges may be allowed in the end, for I am not disposed to separate friends unnecessarily; but all such must be on equal terms, and by agreement between those exchanged.”

The principal paused to put on his glasses, and the students improved the opportunity to applaud the plan laid down.

“The first name on the list is Sheridan,” continued Mr. Lowington; and the usual demonstration when popular officers obtained good positions was made. “Capt. Sheridan, I congratulate you on the high rank you have won; and you have the right to choose any position in the fleet.”

“I prefer to remain where I am,” replied Sheridan. And Mr. Pelham made a record of his choice.

“The next name is that of Thomas Speers,” said Mr. Lowington.

The announcement seemed to create as much surprise as when the same name had been mentioned in the harbor of Gibraltar, two months before. But all the ship’s company of the Ville d’Angers manifested a tremendous enthusiasm.

“Good boy, darlint!” screamed O’Hara, grasping Tom’s hand, and wringing it with hearty good-will. “That’s what all your hard study manes; and I rather you had this place than have it myself.”

“What place do you elect?” asked the principal.

“I am sure you will come next, and I shall take the position of first lieutenant of our steamer,” whispered Tom to his late captain.

“Bother with you! don’t do any thing of the sort! my name may not come till the fortieth, and then where shall we be?” protested O’Hara. “He will take the place of captain of the Frisbone,” he added, turning to the principal.

“You must speak for yourself, Mr. Speers,” said the principal, with a smile.

“Will you tell me what name comes next on the list, Mr. Lowington?” asked Tom.

“I cannot do that,” replied the principal, shaking his head. “And I hope no student will give way for another.”

“Captain of the Frisbone,” replied Tom, who would gladly have given up the position in favor of O’Hara.

Wainwright came in third, and selected his present office in the Tritonia.

“O’Hara is the fourth on the list,” the principal proceeded.

Tom Speers engineered a very warm demonstration in favor of his friend, when the announcement was made, as O’Hara had done when his own was mentioned.

“I am knocked out of my place!” exclaimed Vroome, the captain of the Josephine.

But O’Hara, without an instant’s hesitation, selected the position of first lieutenant of the Frisbone, and then he wanted to hug Tom.

“Murray,” read the principal from the list.

The Josephines shook again; but Murray preferred his old place as first lieutenant of the Prince, for he and the captain were very dear friends, and were always together with the doctor when they went on shore. Vroome fortunately came next, and the Josephines were put out of misery.

The principal went through the list, and it was found by the students, that the officers were not very different from what they had been before, except in the few cases where extraordinary efforts had been made. With hardly an exception, they preferred to remain in the vessels they had belonged to before. Scott came out third lieutenant of the Tritonia, and Blair recovered his lost place in the cabin, Richards having fallen out of it. Gregory and Clinch were seamen, and chose to serve in the Prince.

“Tom Speers, you are ten times the man I took you to be,” said Judge Rodwood, grasping the hand of his ward, when he got near enough to him to do so. “I am sure your uncle’s fortune, or that part of it that came to you, will go to the right place. I congratulate you, Capt. Speers, and I know you are worthy of the place you have won.”

“Thank you, sir,” replied Tom, glowing with excitement. “I set out for the position, or one just like it, and I have got it. Of course you will not expect me to leave the squadron now?”

“Certainly not; but as soon as you are twenty-one I shall hand the Marian over to you; and any time before that, when you choose to leave the command of the Frisbone, she is at your service.”

Capt. Speers decided not to make any use of her at present. In the afternoon the new officers were put into position on board of the vessels of the fleet. Tom took possession of the captain’s cabin; and O’Hara “gushed” all the afternoon, he was so pleased with the present order of things on board.

On the 15th of the month, the fleet, including the Marian, sailed for Brockway. After a pleasant June passage, the vessels arrived.

And now, having taken the academy squadron twice across the Atlantic, our series of stories comes to an end. In the course of the summer the principal re-organized his squadron, as he had intended. In November Tom Speers, as captain of the Frisbone, as she was now legally named, conveyed Mr. Frisbone, his wife, her sister, and Dr. Phelps, to Orotava, in the island of Teneriffe, where they had decided to spend the winter. When he had landed his passengers, he sailed for Havana, where the American Prince was to join him; and the two vessels were to spend the winter in the West Indies.

Early in the spring the two steamers went to the Canaries again; where a happy meeting between Tom and Miss Louise occurred, and it was rumored that they were in very great peril of becoming more nearly related in a few months or years. At this point Tom concluded, that, as he was twenty-one, he would retire from the command, and go on a cruise in the Marian. The last we heard of him, he was in the China Sea, with O’Hara, who had graduated in the fall of the same year as Tom, still sticking to him like a brother. The young millionnaire does not spend all his income upon himself, and the poor and the needy have good reason to thank God that old Tom Speers gave half of his colossal fortune to his nephew.

Having taken our readers all over Europe, we bid them all good-by as we step ashore from our voyage among “The Isles of the Sea.”

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES:

Italicized text is surrounded by underscores: _italics_.

Obvious typographical errors have been corrected.

Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been standardized.

Archaic or variant spelling has been retained.