"If I take any part at all, I hope it will be on the right side," replied Mr. Stoute.
"Which means, I suppose, that I am on the wrong side," replied Mr. Hamblin, with a heavy sigh.
"It means exactly that," added the other, candidly.
"You think, then, that the boys have done precisely right—do you?"
"Without saying that, I am compelled to believe you were in the wrong."
"That boy threatened to arrest me," continued Mr. Hamblin, with something like a shudder; "and all the crew gave three cheers for Captain Kendall!"
"I could hardly resist the temptation to join with them in giving the cheers," replied Mr. Stoute, consolingly. "The conduct of Captain Kendall filled me with admiration."
"Mr. Stoute, do you consider that a proper remark to make to me?"
"You will not understand anything but the plainest speech, and I intend to be perfectly candid with you. You interfered with the discipline of the vessel, and because the captain respectfully declined to recall the boat, you threw yourself into a passion, and behaved in a most ungentlemanly and undignified manner. Positively, sir, I am ashamed of you! You called the captain a puppy, sir!"
"He's only a boy," answered Mr. Hamblin, in whom this plain talk seemed to create a doubt in regard to his conduct.