“I was a-thinking that you’ve just been made captain, and that the crew’s with you, and that you’re going to chuck it away.”
“What do you mean, Bart?”
“I mean captain, as so sure as you give the lieutenant another chance he’ll take it, and the lads, like Dinny and Dick, mayn’t have the chance to get Mazzard drunk and come to your help.”
“You do nothing but doubt your officer,” said the captain, angrily.
“More do you,” retorted Bart.
The captain started, and then turned angrily away; but Bart followed him.
“You’re skipper, and I’ll do aught you like; but so sure as you leave this here ship there’ll be a row, and you won’t be able to go again, for you won’t come back.”
The captain took a turn up and down, and then stopped opposite Bart.
“I’ll take your advice, Bart,” he said, “though it goes very much against the grain. Take Dinny with you, and do this for me as if I were helping you all the time.”
“Ay; you may trust me.”