“I am sorry to disappoint you, but I have decided to go.” “Will you come on shore, or will you be brought on shore?” “Neither.” “Captain Briscoe, take a file of men, and bring Skotchley on shore. He is a deserter,” added Tommy. Whew! A deserter! “Go ahead, captain,” I suggested to the timid master of the steamer. “There will be a row here in five minutes, if you don’t.” “It is all my place is worth to disobey that stripling,” replied Captain Underwood, disgusted with the situation. “His father rules all Middleport, and he rules his father.” I saw Faxon remonstrating in the most vigorous manner with the commander of the battalion, and presently the former came on board with the olive of peace in his hand. He begged Skotchley to return to the shore, in order to save all further trouble. “If Tommy will permit Wolf to remain, I will,” replied the dignified student. Faxon returned to the shore with these terms; but Tommy indignantly declined them. He would have Skotchley, and he would not have me. The order was given again for Captain Briscoe to bring the refractory lieutenant on shore with a file of soldiers; but the men would not “fall in” to execute such a command. Skotchley was the most influential fellow among the students, as his election to the presidency of the railroad proved. Though he was dignified, and remarkably correct in his deportment, he was very popular. Tommy had just snubbed him, and this had excited the indignation of the crowd. Briscoe and a dozen others threatened to leave the camp, and actually made a movement towards the steamer. Major Tommy was in a quandary. There was a mutiny among the forces, and the prospect at that moment was the breaking up of the camp. The students had long been disgusted with Tommy’s tyranny, and it did not require much to kindle the flames of insurrection in the battalion. Hurried consultations among groups of officers and privates indicated a tempest. The little magnate was shrewd enough now to see that he had gone too far, but his pride would not permit him to recede. The disaffected ones who had the courage to strike for their own rights were collecting near the pier. Briscoe appeared to be the leading rebel, and the force which gathered around him included half the battalion. Tommy was informed that they intended to desert in a body. “Start your boat, Captain Underwood,” said Tommy, in order to prevent the departure of the rebels. The captain pulled the bells, and the wheels of the Middleport turned. “Now stop her!” shouted the major; and it was evident that he intended only to move the steamer far enough from the shore to prevent the escape of the disaffected portion of his command. I heard the last order, but the captain did not, for I had moved to the stern, in order to see the result. “Stop her, I say,” repeated Tommy, savagely. Still Captain Underwood did not, or would not, hear him, and the Middleport went on her way.