“Well, Mr. Brydell, I couldn’t look anybody in the face after that, so I asked for my discharge papers instead of reënlistin’, and then I dropped down in the street and it give me sort o’ relief to know that I couldn’t git over it, because them doctors,—they’re mighty kind and attentive, and they sets where you’re settin’ and tries to skeer me into gittin’ well,—and I know I can’t git well, and I don’t want to git well.”
Brydell could not say a word. There was something imposing in the fierce, simple honor of the man who preferred dying to living because he “couldn’t look anybody in the face again.” Presently Grubb spoke again feebly: “I hope you’ll give my respectful compliments to the leftenant and Admiral Beaumont, and tell ’em as how I hope I’ve did my duty to their satisfaction.”
“I will,” said Brydell.
He sat there and talked a long time with Grubb—talked with him until he had barely time to catch the ship’s boat, and had to run every step of the way to the dock.
CHAPTER IX.
GRUBB’S HONORABLE DISCHARGE.
All the night and the next day Brydell’s heart was heavy for his old friend. The next evening at the same time he got leave. The officers knew of Brydell’s affection for Grubb, and he had no difficulty in getting off when they knew where he wished to go.
Walking rapidly along the street from the wharf, whom should Brydell almost run over but Admiral Beaumont with Billy Bowline as always rolling along behind him.
“I was just thinking about you, boy!” shouted the admiral. “Where are you going in such a hurry?”
“Going to see poor Grubb, sir,” answered Brydell, shaking hands with the admiral and nodding pleasantly to Billy Bowline. And then with the admiral’s hand upon his shoulder, standing in the narrow, fast-darkening street, Brydell told of Esdaile’s disgrace and of the terrible blow it was to poor Grubb.
His story was punctuated with explosions of wrath from the admiral, such as “Infamous cad, the boy! Shoot me, but I’d like to get that young villain on a ship of mine! Why didn’t you lick him, sir? Why didn’t you lick him when you found the rascal out? Poor old Grubb—one of the best men I ever knew; ten good men like him will keep a whole ship’s company in order.”