The captain, though, evidently wished to set me at my ease.
“Never mind, my boy,” he said reassuringly. “We’ll let bygones be bygones; and, as you have so nobly condoned the offence of fighting with your shipmate by subsequently saving his life, I feel more inclined to reward than punish you. Have you been allowed ashore yet to see your parents since you joined?”
“No, sir,” I replied. “I didn’t have my uniform rig last Sunday, sir.”
“Well, then, my boy, you may go and see them this afternoon if you like, when you’ve finished your dinner. I will give you leave till Eight Bells.”
So saying, he scribbled on a piece of paper and handed it to me.
This was a pass, permitting me to be absent from the ship until the time specified on it.
Noticing, as I thanked him for his kindness, that I did not appear perfectly satisfied, he glanced at me scrutinisingly. His eye was like a gimlet, and seemed to penetrate my inmost thoughts; for, I declare, he guessed the feeling that was uppermost in my mind.
“Would you like, my lad,” he said, smiling again, “to take a chum with you ashore?”
“Why, sir,” I exclaimed, “that was the very thing I was thinking of!”
“Ha!” said he, “I fancied that was what was on your mind. Who is your chum?”