“It’ll take a mighty long while for me to get used to bein’ fired from one end of the cabin to the other, an’ then on deck.”
“Wait three weeks, an’ see what you say about it. I went to sea as boy with a master who was as liberal with his blows as Captain Bragg; but I got in the habit of dodgin’ ’em before we’d been outside three days, an’ after that it was fairly smooth sailin’, except when he caught me unawares.”
“But there’s no reason why I should stay on board. I’d rather starve ashore than have the best of everything that’s on this craft.”
“The cook says he told you what risks you’d be takin’ by tryin’ to run away.”
“So he did; but I won’t believe that man can keep me here if I don’t want to stay.”
“He can, an’ all the cook said is true. The only thing left for you is to make the best of it, an’ get along as easy a possible. Now cheer up, an’ have some heart in you.”
With these words the mate left the forecastle, and Ned turned the advice over in his mind until he came to the conclusion that it would be better to act upon the friendly hints.
The result of this conversation was that on the following afternoon the cabin-boy returned to duty by taking up the task which had been left unfinished when the unprovoked attack was made upon him.
The captain entered shortly after the work was recommenced, but made no comment whatever. He did not deign to so much as look at the little fellow, and when the evening meal was served Ned succeeded in waiting upon the table without a mishap.
After the third day came to an end the new cabin-boy felt quite well at home. He had remembered the mate’s advice in the matter of dodging blows, and on several occasions avoided what might otherwise have been as serious as the first flogging.