In other words, you mean to get into some scrape, and be punished for it, as I was." "No, we don't.

We are going to work man-of-war style.

Old Peaks told us how to do it, when we were on watch last night," replied Grimme.
"Peaks ?" "Yes, he spun us a yarn about man-of-war life, and told us how the men serve out the officers when they don't behave themselves." "Peaks told you this--did he ?" demanded Shuffles.
"Of course he didn't mean to have us do anything of the kind." "Well, how did he tell you to serve out the officers ?" "Make them uncomfortable; keep them in a hornet's nest all the time." "How?
How ?" asked Shuffles, impatiently.
"Why, if the unpopular officer went forward, a belaying pin was sure to drop on his head or his feet; a tar can or a paint pot would be upset on his back; or, if he went below, a cannon ball was liable to roll out of a shot case upon him.

Of course no one ever knew the author of this mischief." "Do you propose to play off any of these tricks on Lowington ?" demanded Shuffles.
"We have got a rod in pickle for him," replied Grimme, chuckling.
"What is it ?" "We intend to give him a dose of kerosene oil, to begin with," laughed Sanborn.
"One of the stewards left his oil can on the fore scuttle ladder, after the hatch was put on to keep the spray out, and I took possession of it," added Grimme, hardly able to keep his mirth within the limits of prudence.
"What are you going to do with it ?" asked Shuffles.
"We are going to give Lowington the contents of the can, and then throw it overboard." "Indeed! Who is the fellow that has boldness enough to do this thing ?" "I have; and I have volunteered to do the job," answered Grimme, with a degree of assurance which astonished even Shuffles.
"You dare not do it!" "I dare, and I will, if the fellows will stand by me.

Lowington is sitting at the table in the professors' cabin, right under the skylight, reading.