"Of course I have the key," replied Dory.
"Suppose you give it to me? I should like to take a nap in the cabin while we are going down the lake," added Pearl.
"I just said it spoiled the sailing of the boat to have you so far forward. I slept on that seat here in the standing-room last night; and I think you can take your nap just as comfortably there as in the cabin," answered Dory.
There was something cunning and suspicious in the conduct of Pearl Hawlinshed that made the skipper very uncomfortable. He acted as though he was playing a part to accomplish a purpose. The skipper had made up his mind that it was time for him to open the cabin-doors, and thus obtain the assistance and protection of the officer.
"Don't say any thing more to me about spoiling the sailing of the boat, Dory. I know more about sailing a boat than you do," replied Pearl. "You are a cross-grained youth, and you know more than the law allows for a boy of your years. You beat me out of this boat; but you stole the money to buy her, and it was no trade."
The skipper concluded that it was best to make no reply to this charge.
"We will settle that matter at another time," continued Pearl. "I believe I hinted to you that I wanted to take a nap in the cabin."
"And I hinted to you that I did not want the boat loaded by the head any more," replied Dory, who was not at all disposed to be bullied, politely or otherwise.
"I prefer to sleep in the cabin, and I want the key of that padlock," said Pearl more decidedly than he had before spoken.
"You can't have it," replied Dory with quite as much decision.