Northern Lands; or, Young America in Russia and Prussia

"I don't believe in it!" exclaimed De Forrest, the third lieutenant of the Young America.

"I can't say I like the idea very much," replied Beckwith, the first master. "Tom Cantwell is a great scholar, without a particle of doubt, but he is no more of a seaman than that English fellow, Clyde Blacklock, and ought not to be captain."

"But under the rule of the ship, it can't be helped," added De Forrest.

"Then the rule ought to be changed. There are not half a dozen fellows in the squadron who believe that Cantwell ought to be captain."

"He hasn't been three months in the squadron. He served his first month in the steerage, and then jumped up to fourth master. Next month he will be the captain of the ship. He doesn't know enough to set a topsail, and couldn't get the ship under way to save his life."

"I shouldn't care so much about his seamanship, if he were only a decent[12] fellow," continued Beckwith.

"I don't want a fellow over me who don't know anything. I can't respect him."

"Well, what are you going to do about it? We can't help ourselves."

"I don't know that we can," replied De Forrest. "Cantwell is a great scholar, and seems to know everything without studying it; but he is mean, conceited, overbearing, and tyrannical. I don't believe the principal likes the idea of his being captain."