If the name of Tom Speers had produced a sensation among the officers and crew, that of Bark Lingall made a greater one. Three months before, he had run away from the vessel with a fellow so bad that the latter was expelled; and on his return, though he came back of his own accord, having been reformed by the influence of Raymond while both were absent, his lost lessons could not be made up; and he was given the highest number in the vessel, which placed him below all the others. From that low position he had suddenly risen to be the third master of the Tritonia. The case seemed to be so singular, and so contrary to the past experience of the students, that the vice-principal deemed it necessary to explain it. He took the occasion to illustrate that almost any student who was thoroughly in earnest in his studies could obtain any position his ambition coveted. When he saw that Lingall was doing so well, he anticipated a high position for him, though not quite so high as he had attained. “I am disgusted,” said Richards, when one more chance had slipped away from him. “I feel sure that the books have been doctored. Two fellows from the steerage have got into the cabin.” “And we are about at the end of the rope. Either you or I must go down now, and perhaps both of us,” replied Blair, shrugging his shoulders. “That’s so; but I don’t believe we are to be sent down by any sort of fair play,” growled Richards. “There is no help for it. I don’t think I did as well last month as I should have done if I had supposed there was any danger of being shoved out of the cabin,” continued Blair frankly. “I have no doubt I could have done better; but I believe now that I have done well enough to keep my place.” “What are you going to do about it? get up a mutiny?” “I feel like doing something about it.” “Wait a minute before you do it,” laughed Blair. “You may be all right yet.” “I can’t be any thing better than fourth master, and below Speers and Lingall.” “Fourth master,” continued the vice-principal, when the excitement of the last announcement had in a measure subsided; and then he paused again, not to prolong the agony of the students, but to make sure that no mistake was made. “We shall know all about it in another minute,” said Blair; “and you will learn whether or not you need go on with your mutiny.” “I haven’t said any thing about a mutiny: you said that, Blair.” “Mutinies don’t pay in this squadron: besides, we shall be homeward bound in a few days,” laughed Blair. “Fourth master, Richards,” read the vice-principal from his list. “There you are, Richards!” exclaimed Blair. “And you are counted out,” added the new fourth master. “I am; but I shall not cry about it. You are an officer, and I am a seaman now; and, if I conclude to get up a mutiny at your suggestion, I shall not say any thing to you about it.”