The next morning, the ship got under way, and stood out of the harbor, bound for Brockway again.  She had a light breeze, and a smooth time, and the boys had the satisfaction of seeing every rag of canvas spread, including studding-sails alow and aloft; but it was not till after dark that the ship came to anchor at her former moorings.

Wilton and Monroe were released from confinement in the morning, and permitted to go on deck.  Whatever their shipmates might have said, they felt that they had been severely punished, especially as they had failed in their runaway expedition.  Wilton did not feel any more kindly towards Shuffles when he was released than when he had been ordered to his room.  He felt that his late crony had been a traitor, and he was unable to take any higher view of the circumstances.

“Wilton,” said Mr. Lowington, when he met the runaway on deck, the day after the Fourth, “I told you that you had made a mistake.  Do you believe it yet?”

“I suppose I do, sir.”

“You suppose you do!  Don’t you know?”

“Yes, sir, I think I did make a mistake,” replied Wilton, who found it very hard to acknowledge the fact.

“I do not refer to your punishment, when I allude to the consequences of your misdeed, for that was very light.  You have fallen very low in the estimation of your superiors.”

“Do you mean Mr. Shuffles, sir?”

“I did not mean the officers exclusively, though I believe they have a proper respect for the discipline of the ship.”

“I don’t think Shuffles need to say anything.”

“He hasn’t said anything.”

“He is worse than I am.”

“Shuffles has done very well, and merits the approbation of the principal and the instructors.”

“They don’t know him as well as I do,” growled Wilton.

“They probably know him better.  Your remarks do not exhibit a proper spirit towards an officer.  He defeated your plan to escape, but he did no more than his duty.  He would have been blamed, perhaps punished, if he had done any less.”

“I don’t find any fault with him for doing his duty, but I don’t like to be snubbed by one who is worse than I am.  If you knew what I know, sir, you would turn him out of the after cabin.”

“Then it is fortunate for him that I don’t know what you know,” replied Mr. Lowington, sternly.  “If you wish to injure him in my estimation, you will not succeed.”

“He is going to get up a mutiny one of these days.  He told me all about it,” continued Wilton, desperately, when he found that the principal was in no mood to listen to his backbiting.

“That will do, Wilton?  I don’t wish to hear anything more about that matter.  Your testimony against Shuffles, under present circumstances, is not worth the breath you use in uttering it.”

“I thought it was my duty to tell you, if any one was trying to get up a mutiny.”