wrong, I'll be obeyed. Perhaps I
ought to have put him in irons though, instead of being so handy with my
fists. You'll have to go and stick half-a-yard of plaster on his cheek:
it's cut."

"What was the matter?" said the doctor, as soon as the captain gave him
an opportunity.

"Brymer told him and another of the men to go up aloft, and he refused.
I heard him, and ordered him to go at once, and he said, loud enough for
Miss Denning to hear--never mind what. Here she comes;--and I knocked
him down."

"Ah, my dear young lady," he continued, taking off his cap, "I apologise
to you for that scene. But a captain must be master of his ship."

"I am very sorry too," she replied sadly. "It seemed so shocking for
you to strike the man."

"Now, now, now, my dear, don't you scold me, an old fellow who has to
play the part of father to you and your brother on this voyage. It was
a pity perhaps, but I was obliged. But there, there, it's all over
now."

"Hope it be," grumbled a voice behind me, and I turned sharply to see
that Hampton was close alongside. "Yes, sir," he said again, "I hope it
be, but chaps who wears earrings has got tempers like spiteful women,
and that chap Jarette arn't the sort to forget a blow."

"Did the captain hit him very hard?" I said, after a glance over my
shoulder, to see that the officers were walking aft talking to Miss
Denning.

"Hard? Did the skipper hit him hard, sir? What says you, Barney, and
you, Neb Dumlow?"

This was to the two sailors who were generally pretty close to his
heels, all three men being thorough messmates, and having, as I
afterwards learned, sailed together for years.

"Did he hit him hard?" said Barney, slowly, and giving his mouth a rub
with the back of his hand.

"That's what I said, messmate; don't get chewin' o' my words over five
hundred times to show off afore our young orficer. Did he hit him
hard?"

"Orfle!" said Barney.

"Then why didn't you say so afore, 'stead o' getting into bad habits,
a-saying things for the sake o' talking. Now, Neb Dumlow, just look the
young gent straight in the face and say what you thinks."

"Couldn't ha' hit him no harder," growled the great fellow in his deep
bass voice.

"Not with one hand," acquiesced Hampton; "but you needn't ha' screwed
both your eyes out o' sight to say it, matey. Bad habit o' hisn, sir,"
he continued, turning to me, "but I'm a-trying to break him on it.
Neb's a good sort o' chap if