human
Captain Kendall also made a mistake,
gpt
He did indeed, sir. It is always a very great mistake to disobey one's teacher.
human
I do not mean that.
gpt
May I ask what you do mean, sir?
human
His mistake was in not going on deck when the messenger sent to him by the officer of the deck reported that a squall was coming up.
gpt
But I refused the permission,
human
Then he should have gone without your permission,
gpt
Am I to understand, sir, that you counsel disobedience among the boys on the Josephine?
human
No, sir; I counsel obedience to the laws of God and man, and to the orders of one's superior. Mr. Hamblin, is it possible that you could not understand the circumstances of that occasion? continued the principal.
gpt
A squall was coming up, and you desired to detain the captain of your vessel in the steerage!
human
But half the crew were on deck. I am told that Mr. Terrill is a competent seaman. He knew enough to take down the sails, if necessary.
gpt
Such a course would have been without a precedent, and in violation of one of the rules of the ship.
human
Did you not tell me that all the students, including the captain,--you mentioned him especially,--were subject to the orders of the professors in school hours?
gpt
I certainly did; but if I had supposed that there was an instructor in either vessel so utterly wanting in discretion, I should have qualified the statement. Captain Kendall is in command of the Josephine. He is responsible for the safety of the vessel and for the lives of those on board.
human
He might have sent up word to take down the sails,
gpt
Did any one ever hear of a captain working his vessel while in the steerage? retorted Mr. Lowington, impatiently, as he took a pen and wrote a few lines on a sheet of paper.
human
Was Captain Kendall respectful to you?
gpt
No, sir.
human
What did he say that was disrespectful?
gpt
Disobedience is always disrespectful. He used no disrespectful words.
human
I did not suppose he did. In a word, if Captain Kendall had gone on deck when the first messenger went to him, I should have justified and sustained him. I will go a step farther: he ought to have done so.
gpt
Then I am to understand that I am a mere cipher on board of the Josephine,
human
You are to understand, sir, that the first duty of the captain of a ship is to his vessel and to those on board of her. Why, sir, I thought the young gentleman was insane, and I was intensely anxious, when I saw his vessel with all her light sails on while a squall, so clearly indicated as that of Saturday, was impending. I blamed him very much. The squall was as likely to come half an hour sooner as when it did come. If it had struck her with all sail set, it would have taken the masts out of her--perhaps foundered her. If several of the students had been lost, what satisfaction would it be to me or their friends to know that the disaster occurred because the professor of Greek refused to let the captain go on deck!
gpt
Perhaps I was wrong, sir.
human
I see that you fully sustain Mr. Kendall,
gpt
I only blame him because he did not disobey you the first time instead of the second.
human
Was it necessary for him to call all hands?
gpt
It was emphatically necessary! If he had gone on deck when the first message reached him, it might not have been necessary, though I should have sustained him in doing so; for the safest side is always the best side. May I ask you to read this order?