most
certainly report your conduct to the captain."

"I will save you the trouble; Captain Kearney is now coming up, and I
will report it myself."

This O'Brien did, upon the captain's putting his foot on the
quarter-deck.

"Well," observed the captain to Mr Phillott, "what is it you complain
of?"

"Mr O'Brien's language, sir. Am I to be addressed on the quarter-deck
in that manner?"

"I really must say, Mr Phillott," replied Captain Kearney, "that I do
not perceive anything in what Mr O'Brien said, but what is correct. I
command here; and if an officer so nearly equal in rank to yourself has
committed himself, you are not to take the law into your own hands. The
fact is, Mr Phillott, your language is not quite so correct as I could
wish it. I overheard every word that passed, and I consider that you
have treated your _superior_ officer with disrespect--that is _me_. I
gave permission that the shark should be caught, and with that
permission, I consequently allowed those little deviations from the
discipline of the service, which must inevitably take place. Yet you
have thought proper to interfere with my permission, which is tantamount
to an order, and have made use of harsh language, and punished the young
gentlemen for obeying my injunctions. You will oblige me, sir, by
calling them all down, and in restraining your petulance for the future.
I will always support your authority when you are correct; but I regret
that, in this instance, you have necessitated me to weaken it."

This was a most severe check to Mr Phillott, who immediately went
below, after hailing the mast-heads, and calling down the midshipmen.
As soon as he was gone, we were all on the hammocks again; the shark was
hauled forward, hoisted on board, and every frying-pan in the ship was
in requisition. We were all much pleased with Captain Kearney's conduct
on this occasion; and, as O'Brien observed to me, "He really is a good
fellow and clever officer. What a thousand pities it is that he is such
a confounded liar!" I must do Mr Phillott the justice to say that he
bore no malice on this occasion, but treated us as before, which is
saying a great deal in his favour, when it is considered what power a
first lieutenant has of annoying and punishing his inferiors.

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE.

ANOTHER SET-TO BETWEEN THE CAPTAIN AND FIRST LIEUTENANT--CUTTING-OUT
EXPEDITION--MR. CHUCKS MISTAKEN--HE DIES LIKE A GENTLEMAN--SWINBURNE
BEGINS