"I'll do anything now. I heard what Sherwood said to you, and what you said to him. I didn't think you would let any man talk about your brother as he did. Do you suppose I would let any man talk like that about my brother? I'll bet I wouldn't! I'd knock him over before the words were out of his mouth."
"Why, what did he say, Ben?"
"What did he say! Didn't you hear what he said? Didn't he tell you I was a drunken fellow, and couldn't be trusted?"
"Well, he certainly did," replied Lawry moodily.
"And you heard him! And you didn't say a word!" said Ben furiously.
"What could I say when Mr. Sherwood spoke only what I know is true?"
"Then you think I'm a drunken fellow, and can't be trusted?" demanded Ben, with an injured look.
"Don't you drink too much sometimes?"
"No, I don't! I drink what I want; but no one ever saw me the worse for liquor. Who says I can't be trusted?"
"When I gave you the wheel, at your own request, you left it, and the boat would have been ashore in another minute. Does that look as though you could be trusted?" added Lawry.