William Garton drew himself up to the full extent of his five-feet-four (or thereabouts).
"Will you kindly put me ashore, sir?"
"Certainly not!" exclaimed Gran'pa. "You've signed on for this voyage—and you're coming."
"This . . . this . . ." he stormed, . . . "is abduction—forcible abduction!"
"Nothing of the sort! You may have changed your mind, but that's no reason why I should change the course of this boat. Run back to bed like a sensible fellow, before you catch cold."
"If you don't stop this infernal ship and turn round I'll . . . jump overboard."
He dashed to the rail and commenced mounting it—apparently with every intention of fulfilling his threat.
But Gran'pa was too quick for him. He sprang forward, gripped the little man by the pajama jacket, and hauled him back to safety again.
"This is mutiny, sir!" cried Gran'pa. "I won't have such rebellious behavior on board of my ship. For two pins, I'd clap you in irons!"
"Let me go! . . . I'll have you prosecuted! . . . D'you hear that?"