“Yes, that’s true enough; but you must master your temper. Save all that sort of thing up till you fight the French, and then you will be allowed to grow quite mad if you like. Now once more, about that boathook. You did not lose it?”
“Yes, sir; we did lose it.”
“Ah, I thought so.”
“Because the great fish carried it off.”
“Humph! Well, go and get yourself dry. If you are lucky, you will hear no more about this, only have the cost of the boathook deducted out of your pay, and perhaps the captain will have forgotten all about your conduct by to-morrow.”
“What did he say to you?” said Jem, as Don went below.
Don told him.
“Pay for the boathook?” said Jem. “Well, I’ll do that, my lad. But what did he say—the skipper would forget it by to-morrow?”
“Yes, Jem.”
“I hope he will.”