“What is it?” asked Monroe, eagerly.

“Keep shady, for a while.  How many fellows can we muster?”

“I don’t know.”

“Well, don’t stir the matter yet.  Here comes Lowington and we will talk to him first.  Come, fellows, let’s make a dive at him.”

Wilton, attended by his companions, walked up to the principal, as he was going forward.  Touching his cap respectfully, as the discipline of the ship required, he opened the case.

“Mr. Lowington, some of the students would like to go on shore to-morrow, to celebrate the Fourth.  Can’t we have liberty?”

“You know the rule; you should apply to the first lieutenant for leave of absence,” replied Mr. Lowington.

“We have, sir, and been refused.”

“Then there is nothing more to be said.  The first lieutenant speaks with authority.”

“I beg your pardon, sir, but are we to stay on board all day to-morrow?”

“That is certainly the arrangement, Wilton.”

“Some of us would like to celebrate the day, sir, and we think it is rather hard to be obliged to do duty on the Fourth of July.”

“I intend to have the day celebrated in a proper manner.  I have made preparations for a gala day on board.”

“If you please, sir, we would rather go on shore.”

“I am very sorry, for your sake, that I shall be unable to reverse the answer of the first lieutenant.  If I permit one or a dozen to go ashore, I cannot refuse any, and all must go.  I think the boys will be satisfied with the arrangements I have made for the day.”

“I never was kept in school on the Fourth of July before, sir,” growled Wilton.

“Then this will be a new event in your experience,” answered Mr. Lowington, coldly, as he turned from the petitioners, and went forward.

There were a great many wild boys on board of the Young America, and it was morally impossible for the whole crew to attend the celebration in the city, without more or less of them getting into a scrape.  They had been kept on board for two months, and not allowed to go on shore, except under the supervision of one of the instructors; and to let any considerable number of them loose on such a day as the Fourth of July, would only be courting trouble, for they would be all the more disorderly after the long period of restraint.

Mr. Lowington did not willingly deprive the boys of any innocent gratification.  He had faithfully considered the matter of celebrating the day, and taken the advice of the instructors on the subject.  It had been proposed to procure a band of music, and visit the city in a body, under the usual discipline; but there were many difficulties attending such a plan.  The boys were all the sons of rich men, and most of them were abundantly supplied with pocket money.  As it would be impossible to prevent the escape of some of them from the procession, in the crowded streets, it was feared that their money would prove to be “the root of all evil.”  The project had finally been abandoned; and, as a substitute, a programme for a celebration on board had been arranged, for there the students would be entirely under the control of the instructors, who would check all excesses.  It was anticipated that a few discontented spirits would grumble, but no rebellion was expected.