A one-eyed little man was twinkling down at him.
II
The boy came over the side.
He was without hat and in his shirt, a pale stripling, gaunt of cheek, and with flaming eyes.
"Liar!" he cried, and transfixed the giant with a finger.
The one-eyed little man, one-armed too, four stars on his breast, turned on the boy in a cold blaze.
"Remember in whose presence you stand!" he said. "I am Lord Nelson."
"He said you weren't on board, sir," cried the boy stubbornly.
"I said nothing of the sort, my lord," replied the giant calmly. "I said I wasn't going to stop the way of your lordship's frigate to let a smuggler's brat liquor up."
"And quite right too," said Nelson. "What is it the boy wants?"