“What had you been about?”
“Nothing, sir,” said the lad bitterly.
“Then what had you left undone?”
“I dunno, sir. I try all day long to do what the skipper wants, but it’s always kicks when it arn’t blows; and when it’s neither he’s always swearing at me. I wish I was dead!” he cried passionately.
“Stop here,” cried Uncle Dick, sharply, for the lad was moving off, with his eye covered up again.
Regularly cowed, the lad stopped short, flinching the while.
“Don’t do that,” said Uncle Dick. “I was not going to strike you.”
“No, sir, but everybody else does, ’cept the carpenter. But I don’t care now; I shall go overboard and end it.”
“Why?” said Uncle Dick.
“Why, sir? What’s the good o’ living such a life as this?”