“Yes, sir; very much,” said Syd, eagerly, in astonishment that the severe officer was so amiable.
“Humph! of course. Look here, Mr Belton, do you know what the old proverb says?”
“About idleness, sir?”
“No, not that one. This:—A boy is a boy.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Two boys are half a boy.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And three boys are no boy at all. I want some work done, so I send one boy with each boat. Hi! bo’sun; better take another breaker of water; you may not find any, and we do not want to communicate for some hours.”
“Ay, ay, sir,” cried Strake, and he busied himself about the order.
“Got your arms all right, and plenty of ammunition?”