the doctor began to grow warm.

"Now, don't be absurd and obstinate, sir," he cried; "do as I advise
you, and let's get this miserable trouble out of the way. The cabin's
too small, and we all want to help one another too much, for our little
commonwealth to be at sixes and sevens. Come, pitch all that shame and
cowardice overboard."

"Do you mean to say, sir, that I did wrong in pitching--I mean in
hitting that hot-headed Scotch boy again when he hit me?"

"I did not bring you down here to argue out questions of that kind,
sir."

"But you might answer me, sir. I want to know whether I really was in
the wrong."

"Take it that you were," said the doctor.

"No, sir, I can't. I don't feel convinced. If you had been in my
place--"

"I'm not going to answer any such questions, Steve, and you have no
right to put them to me. I tell you I am not going to be cross-examined
by you, sir, on all kinds of pros and cons. This is a matter that I
want settled at once for both of your sakes--there, for all our sakes.
Now go."

Steve shook his head again.

"I don't feel as if I can."

"Then you're a more stubborn fellow than I took you to be; and I can
assure you, Steve, I feel that, with a lad whom I have always tried to
make my friend. Now, have I not?"

"Yes, sir."

"Then do as I say, Steve. Come, like a man."

"I can't now."

"There you go again, repeating this obstinate can't, can't, can't, when
all the time you can."

"But tell me this, sir. Supposing--"

"Look here, boy, am I your doctor, or am I not?"

"No, sir, I haven't been ill," said Steve drily.

"You're ill now. Your nerves are all jarred, your head's in an unwonted
state of excitement, and your pulse is going--though I have not felt
it--far above its normal rate. You are ill, sir, bodily and mentally,
in a regular peevish state of excitement; and as your doctor, speaking
perfectly honestly and straightforwardly, I say to you that the medicine
you require is mental; that you have only to go to the captain and have
a few words based on my advice, and you will be well again directly."

"I'm not ill," said Steve coldly.

"You are, sir; and mental illness is worse than an ordinary bodily
ailment. Now, will you go?"

"Will you answer me this one question, sir, first?"

"No. Well, yes, I will, if it's a sensible one; and then I shall expect
you to go at once to make yourself tidy and see the captain. Now, then,
it's very weak of me,