“Better think that over a little, Bob,” suggested Jordan.
“Him planty bad man,” said Tirzal, climbing up into the tower in order to do his steering from the lookout.
“If he stays, mate, I resign!” snapped Speake.
“No, you don’t, Speake!” answered Bob. “I’m master of this boat until we get back to Belize. Cassidy’s mate, and you’re in the torpedo room.”
“You see how it is, Bob,” muttered Cassidy.
“It’s as I want it, Cassidy,” said Bob firmly, “as far as Belize.”
“But, look here,” began Speake, disposed to argue the point, “here’s a man, holdin’ the responsible position of mate, as goes——”
“Forget that for a while, Speake,” interrupted Bob, “and remember the number of times Cassidy’s pluck and friendship have been a help to all of us. Put all the fine things Cassidy has done into one side of the scale, and this one black mark in the other, and there’s still more than enough left to entitle him to our confidence.”
“I’m obliged to you, Steele,” said Cassidy. “I’ll go on as mate as far as Belize, and then the cap’n can settle the matter as he thinks right. Just now, though, I’m tired and I guess I’ll go to the torpedo room and take a rest.”
“All right,” said Bob. “You go to the torpedo room, too, Speake.”