"It does no harm to be friendly with the men. Liking is as good a handle as fear, to hold them with."
Old Noll tried to beat down Brander's eyes with his own; but his own were the first to shift. He shrank, the vigor of his anger passed, he was an old man again. "Damn it, if you'd rather be forward, go there and stay," he fretted. "Do you want to go back to the fo'c's'le, man?"
Brander said respectfully: "No, sir. I'll do as you say."
"For God's sake, do," Noll whined. He turned back to the cabin, brushed Dan'l. "And you, Mr. Tobey. Don't bother me with such matters."
Dan'l looked at Brander, eyes glinting. "I thought it important, sir," he said.
Noll grunted and went below. Dan'l, with a triumphant grin at Brander, followed him. Faith was in the main cabin; she looked at the two seriously. "What was it, Noll?" she asked.
Noll shook his head fretfully; he stumped past her toward his own cabin. "The man Brander, currying favor forward," he said. "I put a bee in his bonnet."
Dan'l said: "He meant no harm, sir. I'm sure of it...."
Noll whirled on him. "Then why did you run to me?"
"So that you might set him right, and put an end to't," said Dan'l. "He's a bit too friendly with the men.... It was time he was told...."