'Gahn, it's a log-book he wrote hisself about this packet,' said Green, as they sat in the fo'c'sle in the second dog-watch, with the rest of the men listening.
'You're an ignorant man, Green,' replied Wadd; 'I'd fair despise to argue with you about books. 'Owsever, 'ere we are, out to sea, and the skipper and mates dunno where they are with this 'oly crowd of 'orse-keepers, and dear young Bertie walkin' about among 'em with his revolver out and his eyes starin' and usin' delicate language to 'em. There's trouble right ahead, and hany moment there may be bloodshed.'
For once a foremast growler hit the situation off to a T. And no one else did, except some of the mixed gathering who had shipped in the Pilgrim, one to every seventeen horses, to look after them on their way to the war.
'It's almost peaceful now,'said the skipper, 'it was a great and blessed relief to send the carpenters ashore. Their hammering drove me mad. How are you getting along with the horse-keepers, Mr. Fortescue?'
Bertie Fortescue nodded drily.
'I've got 'em to rights,' he said; 'they see already they can't impose on me. I let 'em see right off that I carried a revolver and meant to stand no nonsense. With men of their class it's no use being soft sawdery, is it?'
Old Scantlebury might be soft, but he was not quite a fool or without experience.
'I wouldn't be too hard on 'em, Mr. Fortescue,' he said anxiously, 'they're a very tough lot.'
'I'll show 'em I'm tougher,' said Bertie firmly, as he stuck his eyeglass in his eye. 'They'll not impose on me. They respect me already. I can see it.'
The holy gang that respected him were shrieking for'ard at that very moment over Mr. Herbert Fortescue, of Messrs. Fortescue & Son. For as it happened, there were several humourists among them as well as several who ought to have been hanged, and the jokers leavened the whole lump so that there was peace at present, if the row was to come later.