“If I had my way I’d just take every contemptible sick monkey who laid up, haul him on deck, make fast a rope to his ankle, and souse him overboard a few times. That would cure them.”
Syd closed his eyes, for he was giddy; but his breast rose and fell as if he were suffering from some emotion.
“Filling the ship up with a pack of swabs who, because they are sons of captains, are indulged and nursed, and the whole place is turned into a hospital. Why don’t you go into the cabin?”
“Because I don’t choose,” cried Syd, suddenly starting up with his face flushing, his eyes bright, and the passion that was in him sending the blood coursing through his veins.
Terry started back in astonishment.
“I’m not going into the cabin, because I am going to stop here in the midshipmen’s berth to teach the bully of the mess how to behave himself like a gentleman.”
“What?”
“And not like the domineering cur and coward he is.”
“Coward?”
“Yes, to come and talk to me like this; you know I’m weak and ill.”