Frawley cleared his throat. "I was about to show young Ben the brain, Captain Birdsel."
"Good idea," the commanding officer said. "But I'll show Ben around myself, Lieutenant Frawley. You may return to checking the manifest."
Frawley glowered. "One of these days, one of these days...."
The captain snapped very erect. "One of these days what?"
The junior officer shrugged. "One of these days, there may be a dark night, Captain."
The iron-haired man reached out a manicured hand and twisted Frawley's tunic at the collar. He brought his face level with the second-in-command. "One of these times, there may be charges of mutiny, Lieutenant. And guess who will play Jack Ketch personally?"
Frawley assumed an at-attention pose, and blinked. "Aye, sir. There may be a mutiny and somebody may get hung."
Birdsel shoved Frawley away from him and wiped his hand elaborately down his side. "That will be all, Mister Frawley."
Frawley constructed the same excuse for a salute, turned smartly and marched away.
Starbuck developed a definite suspicion that there were currents of tension aboard which he didn't understand.