“Some of these boys, as you call them, judge, are older than I was when I had the command of a full-rigged ship for a time. No, I do not send them off on such expeditions when I can avoid it. I have told you that our friend Mr. Frisbone was on board of the steamer; and my young gentlemen had the alternative of leaving him and his ladies on board, or taking possession of her. I think they acted wisely, though I cannot explain the conduct of the present commander of the Ville d’Angers in towing this wreck to England.” “In my judgment he had a good reason for doing so,” added Mr. Fluxion. “O’Hara is twenty years old; Gregory, his first officer, is nineteen; Speers is the second officer, and he is nearly twenty-one. The other two officers are about the same age. There isn’t a fellow among them that is not fit to take that steamer to any port in the world; and no officers, even in the navy, have been so thoroughly trained in the discharge of their duties.” Mr. Fluxion got just a little excited in the defence of the policy of the principal. He had been an instructor in the institution since it was organized, and he knew the nature of the training the students had received; and any one who was fit to be an officer had been obliged to work his way up to the position. “You think the steamer was bound to Southampton, do you, Capt. Goodwin?” asked Mr. Pelham. “I have not the least idea for what port she was bound; but she was going east of north when I saw her last, so that she could not have been bound for Liverpool, or any port up the west coast,” replied Capt. Goodwin. “I should judge that she would be most likely to go into Southampton; for she would find the least difficulty in the navigation in making that her destination.” “Then she probably got into Southampton four days ago,” added Mr. Pelham. “Very likely she put about immediately, and sailed for Funchal. She may be here by to-morrow or next day.” “Unless the agents or the owners happen to see her, and put in a claim upon her,” suggested Mr. Fluxion: “her case has to be settled in the courts yet.” “Southampton will be a good place for the business,” said the principal; “but that will leave her ship’s company in England without a vessel.” “Leave that to O’Hara; and Tom Speers has money enough to pay the passage of all his shipmates to Madeira in the next steamer,” said the judge, laughing. “But Frisbone is with them; and I am sure he will see them through all right. It is hardly worth while to worry about them. I desire to see young Speers very much indeed; and, if he prefers to retain his place in the Tritonia as first master, I shall make no objection. If I thought I should find him at Southampton, I would return there at once. Can you advise me what to do, Mr. Lowington?”