“Pipe down, bosun.”
Harris took the pipe and blew the tremolo of the belay. The men turned to walk forward, just as Iles and Wise reappeared with the chest and bag. Captain Cammock’s sternness vanished the moment the pipe down had sounded.
“You’ll have to pipe better than that, bosun,” he said. “You pipe like Wally with the stiff neck.” The new bosun laughed. “I’ll pipe fine against we get there, sir.”
Stukeley walked up to Captain Cammock. “What the hell d’you mean by insulting my friend?” he said.
Cammock paid no attention to him, but walked up to Margaret to ask if he would stand the first watch with the new second mate.
“Certainly,” said Margaret.
“I asked you a question,” said Stukeley bitterly, in a loud voice, so that the men loitering in the waist could hear. “D’ye hear me, Captain Cammock? What the hell d’you mean by insulting my friend?”
“Stukeley,” said Margaret, “go below.”
“I’m not talking to you,” said Stukeley.
“No,” said Margaret; “but I’m giving you some sound advice. Go below.”