Chapter Fifty Eight.
How we passed the Sound, and what passed in the Sound—the captain overhears again a conversation between Swinburne and me.
I was on the signal chest abaft, counting the convoy, when Swinburne came up to me.
“Have you been here before, with a convoy, Swinburne?”
“To be sure I have; and it’s sharp work that I’ve seen here, Mr Simple. Work, that I’ve an idea our captain won’t have much stomach for.”
“Swinburne, I beg you will keep your thoughts relative to the captain to yourself; recollect the last time. It is my duty not to listen to them.”
“And I should rather think, to report them also, Mr Simple,” said Captain Hawkins, who had crept up to us, and overheard our conversation.
“In this instance there is no occasion for my reporting them, sir,” replied I, “for you have heard what has passed.”