Dan briefly related the story of the proposition that had been made to him to fight Kester. The mate listened gravely until he had finished.
“Well, what are you going to do about it?”
“That is what I have come to ask you, sir. You told us to consult you when we were in doubt or needed advice.”
“I certainly did.”
“I am in need of advice right now—very much in need of it, sir.”
“There is bad blood between you two, is there not?”
“You might call it that. I cannot say that I have any feeling either way. You know my chum was sent to the brig for having a mix-up with Kester. I might share the same fate.”
“Tell me the details of that trouble. I have not heard the inside.”
Dan did so briefly.
“The coward!” muttered the boatswain’s mate, upon hearing how Kester had knocked Sam Hickey down. “Meet him, by all means.”