“Well, then, as I’ve been thinking, suppose I come ashore with yer and follers yer right up to the captain, and lie close by when he begins to sort o’ keelhaul yer?”
“What good would that do, Tom?”
“Cheer yer up, my lad. I once went ashore with a messmate to help him like when he was going to have a tooth out as had been jigging horrid for two days. He said it did him no end o’ good to have me there. So s’pose I come, sir. It strikes me as the captain won’t say half so much to yer p’raps with me standing by.”
“Oh, no, no, no, Tom,” cried Aleck, quickly.
“It’s very good of you, and I’m much obliged, but I’d rather go straight in and face my uncle quite alone. I’m sure he’d think I brought you because I was too cowardly to come alone.”
“Would he, sir?”
“I feel sure he would, Tom.”
“Well, Master Aleck, I dessay you knows best, but come I will if you’d like me to, sir.”
“Yes, I know that, Tom,” cried the boy, warmly, “but it would be better for me to go in alone.”
“Think so, sir?”