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Page 72
"I will make it all right, Shuffles," replied Paul, as he descended the
cabin steps.
Mr. Lowington was in the main cabin, and the second lieutenant knocked
at the door. He was readily admitted, and invited to take a seat, for
the principal was as polite to the young gentlemen as though they had
been his equals in age and rank.
"I would like to speak with you alone, if you please, sir," Paul began,
glancing at the cabin steward, who was at work in the pantry.
"Come into my state room," said the principal, leading the way.
"I hope your business does not relate to the discipline of the ship,"
continued Mr. Lowington, when they were seated, and the door of the
room was closed. "If it does, you should have applied to the captain."
"This is a peculiar case, sir, and I obtained my information while off
duty," replied Paul, with some embarrassment; for he had thought of
communicating his startling discovery to Captain Gordon, and had only
been deterred from doing so by the fear of betraying Shuffles.
"I will hear what you have to say."
"There is something very bad going on in the steerage," said Paul,
seriously.
"Indeed! What is it?" asked the principal, full of interest and anxiety.
"Gambling, sir."
"Gambling!" repeated Mr. Lowington, his brow contracting.
Paul made no reply; and he expected to be asked how he had obtained the
startling information.
"Are you quite sure of what you say, Mr. Kendall?"
"Yes, sir, I am. In mess room No. 8, there are three or four students
now engaged in gambling. I stood at the door long enough to find out
what they were doing."
"This is serious, Mr. Kendall."
"If you have any doubt about the fact, sir, I hope you will take
measures to satisfy yourself at once, for I think the students are still
there."
"I will, Mr. Kendall; remain in this cabin, if you please, until my
return," added the principal, as he moved towards the door.
"You must be careful when you approach them, sir, for the gamblers are
very sly."
Mr. Lowington passed from the professors' cabin into the steerage, and
proceeding to the entrance of No. 8, he paused to listen. He heard the
whispered conversation about the stakes, and "nicks," "browners" and
"outs." The gamblers were by this time highly excited by the game, and
had not only become imprudent, but absolutely reckless, so intense was
the fascination of their employment. Suddenly, but with a light step, he
entered the mess room. Wilton sat in the berth, while his companions
occupied stools outside and their heads were close together.
Mr. Lowington took Adler by the collar of his frock with one hand, and
Sanborn with the other, just as Wilton had thrown the props upon the
bed. With a vigorous jerk, he tossed them back upon the floor, so as to
obtain a full view of the stakes and the gambling implements. The
culprits were astounded at this sudden descent upon them; but before
they could comprehend the situation fully, the principal turned upon his
heel, and left the room without a word of astonishment or censure.
"We're in for it now," said Wilton, as his companions picked themselves
up from the floor, and gazed at each other with a sheepish look.
"That's so," replied Sanborn.
"We shall catch it," added Adler.
"We shall find out how the inside of the brig looks, in my opinion,"
continued Wilton. "I was a fool to play here, right in the steerage.
Shuffles told me that Lowington smelt a mice, and would make a row
about this thing."
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