"But you must remember that I let you out," said Tom. "I was trying to make amends for what I had done. What do you suppose my father will say, when he hears that you marched me to the academy with those low, ignorant ferry-boys?"
"I don't know. But if those boys were good enough for you while you were at liberty to do as you pleased, they are certainly good enough for you now that you are a prisoner."
"But I won't stand it, I tell you," roared Tom, now beginning to cry in earnest. "I am not going to the academy under arrest, to be shut up in the guard-house. Now mind what I say, Harry Green! If you don't let me go at once, I'll square yards with you some day."
"I am not going to stay here to listen to any threats," replied the lieutenant, placing his hand on the door-knob. "You have been a student at the academy, and you know what is done with a fellow who does not obey orders. You had better go into the galley and dry your clothes."
"O, now, I won't do it," shouted Tom, who seemed to be almost beside himself with rage.
"Well, then, if I will allow you the freedom of the vessel, will you promise that you will not try to escape?"
"No, I won't do that either. Get out of here! I'll fix you for this!"
Harry, seeing that his prisoner was in very bad humor, left the state-room, locking the door after him. While he was talking to Tom, the crew had been employed in setting things to rights, and now the cabin presented the same scene of neatness and order that it had before the fight—only one of the chairs was missing, and the center-table had been pushed against the bulkhead to enable it to retain its upright position, one of its legs having been broken off during the struggle. The officer on duty sat at the desk writing, as if nothing had happened, and a sentinel had been posted at the door of the hold, who saluted the lieutenant as he passed.
Harry went into the galley, where the crew had congregated to dry their clothing by the fire, and to listen to the fisher-boy's story. Xury, Jack Spaniard, Friday, and Will Atkins were there, under charge of a guard, and they seemed to take matters very coolly answering all the questions asked them, and even putting in a word now and then, to assist Bob in his description of the incidents that happened while he was a prisoner in the cave. Xury, especially, was very talkative. The crew all looked at him with a good deal of curiosity, and he held himself very stiffly, believing that he had accomplished a most remarkable feat, when he piloted the vessel safely through the harbor, and that it was his superior skill as a sailor, and not luck, that had carried him through.