"The students voted against the plan just to carry out the joke," added Norwood. "Scott was appointed on this committee, and was notified, but he does not appear." "I think I understand the matter," replied Mr. Lowington. "I will consider the plan on its own merits, though substantially the same system has occupied my attention several times before, and I am not wholly unprepared for it. I will give you my decision on the first day of the month." The committee retired, satisfied with the result of the interview, and hopeful that the plan would be adopted. CHAPTER III. FINLAND AND THE AGITATORS. The day which followed the excited meeting of officers and seamen on the island was Sunday, and the agitation of the subject which disturbed the ship's company in a measure ceased. The religious services were held on shore, in the shade of a pleasant grove, and the Bible classes gathered in favored spots chosen by the teachers. After these exercises were finished in the afternoon, a couple of hours were spent upon the island. Little groups gathered together to walk, or to engage in conversation, while single ones, here and there, enjoyed their own thoughts. Cantwell and Scott seated themselves on a rock near the water, and seemed to be talking together very earnestly. On such occasions the brilliant student usually remained alone, not because he was brilliant, but because his shipmates were inclined to shun his companionship. He was really grateful to Scott for the signal service he had rendered him the day before, not in defeating the new plan, for that had not yet been accomplished, but in preventing him from being wholly ignored, and for making him chairman of the meeting. He had sought the present interview himself. "Of course these proceedings were all directed against me," said Cantwell, after the subject had been introduced. "No doubt of it," replied Scott, candidly. "I don't know why my shipmates should be so prejudiced against me." "Don't you?" asked the joker, rather incredulously. "I do not; I certainly have not injured them." "You won't get mad if I tell you--will you?" "No; surely not," protested Cantwell. "I'll tell you, then." "I shall be much obliged to you, if you will." "I don't know; I'm afraid you won't be," laughed Scott. "I am sincere; and whatever you say, I shall believe you intend to do me a kindness." "That's so. The fellows are prejudiced against you because you are selfish, conceited, overbearing, and tyrannical," said Scott, squarely. "You don't mean all that; you only repeat what you have heard others say." "I do repeat what I have heard others say, and I'm bound to add that I believe it myself. When you give an order, you do it just as though you were a superior being; as though you were everybody, and I were nobody--that's so." "I was not aware of it."