"Did you hear me?" he demanded.
"Say 'ay, ay, sir!'" whispered Bradley, giving the runaway a prod in the ribs with his elbow.
Tony gave the required response, and the captain continued:
"Hereafter keep your ears open, and remember your manners."
"You had better bear that in mind," said Bradley, when he and Tony were once more ashore. "Whenever an officer gives you an order, say 'ay, ay, sir!' and don't waste any time about it, either."
"It hurts me to be obliged to show so much respect to such a fellow as that captain is," replied Tony. "I have had better men than he say 'sir' to me."
"That's what I thought," said Bradley; "and them are the fellows that you had ought to have stayed with. But that's all over now. The respect that's paid to a man on board ship don't depend upon the position he holds ashore, and you'll find it out. An able seaman who hasn't got a cent to his name, is worth more in a gale of wind than a landsman with a million dollars in his pocket."
"I suppose that's so," said Tony, with a sigh. "I suppose, too, that I shall be hauled over the coals a good many times before I know just what is required of me. But, Bradley, I can't be of any use to the doctor."
"Yes, you can. The doctor is the cook."
"O!" exclaimed Tony. "I understand. But what makes the old man so cross?"