The students were as much astonished at Bob's story as their officer had been; and, after the latter had listened a few moments to their remarks, he came to the conclusion that, for once in his life, Tom Newcombe had shown some judgment when he declined to mingle with the crew. While some of them regarded the whole affair as a stupendous joke, others were very angry at him, and all believed that no other boy of his age in the world had so little common sense. Very likely the prisoner was much more comfortable in his wet clothes than he would have been by the fire, in the galley.
The lieutenant took off his coat, wrung the water out of it, and stood by the stove until his clothes were dry, when he returned to the cabin, where he found the tall student with his hand wrapped up in his handkerchief, walking up and down the floor. This was Jackson, the second lieutenant of the ship, and the one who had done such good service with his pillow.
"It is not very comfortable, I assure you," replied the student, his face all wrinkled up with pain, "but I don't mind the hurt so much as I do the investigation that is coming."
The first lieutenant seated himself at his desk, to write out his report of the incidents of the night. He went about it with as much earnestness as if he had been the commander of a government vessel, in time of war, and had just come out of a terrible fight. He had nothing to do but to tell the truth in the fewest possible words, and in a few minutes the report was finished. It ran as follows:
"ACADEMY SHIP STORM KING, July 16th, 18--.
"It becomes my unpleasant duty to inform you that an attack was made upon this vessel, at half-past ten o'clock, by an organized band of outlaws, calling themselves 'Crusoe men,' and that it was partially successful.
"In accordance with the instructions contained in your letters of this date, I reported to the commanding officer of the yacht for duty and command of the vessel. I at once proceeded to carry out the verbal orders given me before I left the academy, and detailed six privates, two corporals, and as many officers, for guard duty. One sentry was posted on deck, while the officer remained in the cabin, and the corporal in the forecastle, the latter going on deck twice each hour, to strike the bells and see that every thing was snug. At the time the attack was made, private Simmonds was the sentinel on deck, and lieutenant Jackson the officer of the guard. The attacking party, consisting of six men, were led by Samuel Barton, who went by the name of governor. They boarded the vessel from a yawl--the darkness and the howling of the storm effectually concealing their movements from the sentinel, and drowning all sounds of their approach. Private Simmonds called for the corporal, and attempted to prevent the boarding of the pirates, but was obliged to retreat into the cabin, where he was pursued by the governor and a portion of his band; the others, commanded by Thomas Newcombe, going down into the galley, and thence into the forecastle, where they aroused the guard from a sound sleep, and drove them into the hold. The governor's squad numbered only three men, but they were armed with spears, which we found to be quite as dangerous as bayonets.