Noll said sullenly: "Well, if he says he done it, he done it."
"That's what I say," Dan'l agreed. "Only thing is, Brander stands up for him. So what do you aim t'do?"
"Brander stands up for him...."
"Says he couldn't ha' done it, any ways."
Noll threw up his fist angrily. "Damn it, Mr. Tobey; don't run to me with this. Find out what happened.... Then tell me. That's the thing.... My God, this ship is.... God's sake, Mr. Tobey, be a man."
Dan'l said steadily: "All right; I say Mauger did it."
Noll's cheeks turned pale and his eyes narrowed on the mate. "Stuck the knife in him?"
"Yes."
The captain's hands tapped his knees. "How did he know to stick it in the man's leg so neat? Most men would ha' struck for the back.... The man knows the uses of a knife, Mr. Tobey."
Dan'l nodded. "Oh, aye...."