“Is my order to be obeyed, or not?” demanded the professor. “I hope you will revoke the order till you have looked at the regulations, sir.” “This is insolence, Wainwright. I am the acting vice-principal of this vessel in the absence of Mr. Pelham. I stand in his place; and he is authorized to suspend an officer for cause.” “If you will be kind enough to read the regulations, I think you will see that you are mistaken,” added the captain in a low tone. “I am not mistaken,” persisted the professor. “We shall have to tack again in a moment, Mr. Primback; and the vessel will roll and pitch as badly as before.” “I think you had better go below, sir,” said Mr. Marline, coming up to the professor at this moment, hoping to make an end of the disagreeable controversy. “The sea is very heavy, and she may roll herself full of water up to the rail.” “Mr. Marline, you will see that Scott obeys my order,” replied Mr. Primback, creeping along the life-line towards the companion-way. The boatswain made no reply, but took the arm of the “philosopher,” as he insisted upon calling all the professors, and helped him down the steps. He deposited him on a sofa where he could preserve his equilibrium. The learned gentleman was very glad to be in a safe position again; but he could not forget the fancied injury to which he had been subjected. “I ordered Scott to come into the cabin, and settle his case with me, Mr. Marline. He hasn’t come yet,” said the professor, wiping the salt spray from his face. “I beg your honor’s pardon, but you are all wrong in this matter,” replied Marline bluntly, for he saw that nothing but plain speech would answer his purpose. At the same time he took from his pocket a copy of the regulations which had been printed on board of the Young America, and slowly unfolded the document. “How can I be all wrong, when, in the absence of the vice-principal, I am in his place, and my authority is supreme?” asked the professor in great astonishment. “Your honor is no sailor.” “I thank the stars that I am not.” “The regulations say that you cannot interfere with the management of the vessel, or with the officers and seamen in the discharge of their duty. If the vice-principal is not on board, the professors can’t meddle with the navigation of the ship. That’s the law; and all we have to do is to obey it.” Mr. Primback took the regulations, adjusted his glasses, and proceeded to read the articles relating to his own duties. The boatswain was right; but the professor was unwilling to admit the fact. “Am I placed at the mercy of these boys?” demanded Mr. Primback, as he removed his glasses, and looked at the boatswain. “So far as handling the vessel is concerned, I don’t see that you have any thing to do with them.” “They are my scholars, but they may insult me if they choose.”