To return to Stormy Jack.
One day the carpenter had ordered me to bring him a pannikin of water. Leaving a job on which I had been set to work by Stormy Jack, I started to obey. In doing so, I caught the eye of the latter, who was standing a little to one side, and had not been seen by the carpenter as he gave me the order.
Stormy shook his head at me, and pointed to the work he had himself ordered me to perform, in a manner that plainly said, “go at it again.”
I obeyed this interpretation of his signal, and resumed my task.
“Did you hear what I said?” angrily shouted the carpenter.
“Yes, sir,” I answered.
“Then why do you not start, and do what I told you?”
I stole a sly glance at Stormy Jack, and seeing upon his face a smile, approving of what I did, I made bold to answer, in a somewhat brusque manner, that I had other work on hand, and, moreover, it was not my business to wait upon him.
The carpenter dropped his adze, caught up his measuring rule, and advanced towards me.
He was suddenly stopped by the strong hand of Stormy placed firmly on his shoulder.