"I would ask a favor of you, sir--as--as--as my father."
"Ask no favors of a father, sir; you have none!"
"Let me beg of the man, then," said Coventry, resolutely. "We are about to engage the enemy. For God's sake, sir, for the love of my mother, do not condemn me to inaction now! Let me serve as the humblest volunteer! You shall not regret it."
The old man hesitated. He was a father in spite of what he had said, and he could not forget it. His heart was throbbing beneath his iron exterior and appearance of outward composure.
"Go!" he replied at last. "You are free of any charges until to-morrow. When next I see you I shall have to prefer them, therefore let me not look upon your face again, sir. Do you understand?"
"Yes, yes; good-bye, sir!" said the young man, brokenly. "I thank you and bless you for this. To-morrow I shall plead my cause in a higher court. Think of me kindly, sir."
"And you have done this work and wrecked yourself for a woman! You have been a fool, sir; what woman that ever lived was worth it?" said the admiral, shortly.
"This one," replied his son. "I loved her; I love her still."
The two men looked at each other in silence. The admiral relented a little,--it was for the last time,--and drew the boy to him. He lifted his head to the sky in silent prayer.
"All hands make sail!" hoarsely cried the boatswain at the instance of the executive officer. "Lay aloft, topman!"