“None o’ your business,” came in reply in a surly tone.
“Truly a gentlemanly reply,” laughed Hunt. “One might readily infer from it that you were not here by invitation.”
“What do you mean by that, sir?” demanded, the invisible speaker, in loud, angry tones.
“That your conduct and speech proclaim you no gentleman, while Captain Raymond is decidedly such.”
“Come, come, friends, don’t let us have any quarrelling here,” came in pleasant tones from the other side of the vessel.
“Now who are you, sir? This isn’t your fight, and you’d better keep out of it,” returned the first voice; “your interference will be asked for when it’s wanted.”
The lads exchanged looks of surprise and one of them asked:
“Are you doing it all, Mr. Lilburn, sir?”
“Ah ha, ah ha! um h’m, ah ha! so you think ’twas I, young sirs!” exclaimed the old gentleman in pretended astonishment. “And why so? Did the voices issue from my lips?”