Mr. Butterell's life for a second time had been threatened on board that ship, and there was an explosiveness in the words, "I'll have your life for this!" that indicated their sincerity. Then followed a volley of village billingsgate as Bill made the hard climb on the slackened rigging, and Mabel rose from her seat; but the mate's answer silenced Bill, and she resumed it.
"Here!" he said, picking up Bill's knife, which had evidently jolted out of its sheath in the fracas. "This is what you want? I'll put it right here, on the house over my window. You can knife me when I'm asleep, and save your friend the trouble." Then he placed the knife carefully within the covering board of the house, and came aft with his smirk, strongly visible in the moonlight.
I was standing beside Tom watching his steering—for he was getting as nervous over it as his brother—and directly in front of Mabel's chair. But I was not yet in charge of the deck.
"Mr. Butterell," said the girl calmly as he approached, "I must ask you not to arouse the men to such language as I have just been compelled to listen to. I am not accustomed to it."
The smirk left his face and it took on a scowl as he realized my presence. "Why, Miss Merwin," he stammered. "I didn't suppose—"
"That is all, Mr. Butterell!" she interrupted. "I do not care to argue."
"Course due east," he growled, turning to me.
"Due east, sir," I answered.
"And keep that mutt aloft till four bells. If he fails to answer the bells, keep him aloft the whole watch."
"Is that all, sir? Is the watch relieved?"