"I had nothing to do with that affair last night."
"I know you had not," answered Newman.
"I give you warning—he intends to get you," continued the second mate. "But he'll not get you that way in my watch. From now on, you need not go aloft after dark."
"Thank you, sir," said Newman.
"You need not," was the response. "I'm not doing this for your sake.
Well—you understand. And make no mistake, my man, as to my position;
I am a ship's officer, and if trouble comes it will find me doing my
duty by my captain's side."
"There will be no trouble if I can prevent it, sir," was Newman's reply.
"Then you have your work cut out for you. You—understand?"
"Yes, I understand," said Newman.
I watched Mister Lynch leap nimbly to the deck, and go striding aft, a fine figure of a man. "Why, he's on the square!" I exclaimed.
"Yes, he is not like the others," said Newman. "She says his heart is clean."