"Don't lose your head, youngster. You'll only do harm. Speak quietly. What do you want to say?"
He released Roy and stepped back; and again Roy showed that he was more than a boy. He did not spring at Brander; he did not curse; he did not weep. He stood, straight as a wire, and his eyes were blazing. His voice, when he found it, was husky and low, so that none but Brander could hear.
"I don't know what you're saying about my sister," said Roy. "Whatever it is, it's not true. If you say it again, I'll kill you."
Brander's eyes shadowed unhappily. He asked: "Why do you think I have said anything?"
"No matter," said Roy harshly. "I know. Keep your tongue between your lips, or I'll shoot you like a yellow dog. That's all...."
He swung abruptly, and went aft so quickly that Brander made no move to stop him. Dan'l came quietly across the waist of the ship as Brander took a step after Roy. "Get forward, Brander," he said.
Brander nodded pleasantly; he said: "Yes, sir."
And he went back to the forward deck, his eyes troubled. He fought, that afternoon, with one of the hands, and whipped the man soundly. Dan'l Tobey reported this in the cabin that evening; and Mr. Ham frowned and said:
"He'd best learn we'll do all the fist work that's done aboard here."
Dan'l smiled. "He was an officer once," he reminded the mate. "It's a habit hard to break."