“Dry up, Dave!” interposed Clinch.
“What reply shall I take to Capt. Fairfield, Stokes?” asked Lawring, as he opened the door behind him.
“Tell Capt. Fairfield, that, with entire respect for him, we have decided not to attend any recitations,” answered Stokes, sending the reply which Gregory had given him.
“Don’t let him go till I bust in his head!” exclaimed the first officer, staggering towards the door to intercept the departing quartermaster.
“No, no; don’t get up a fight here,” said Clinch, taking his crony by the collar, and detaining him.
Lawring did not wait for any thing more; but hastened back to the cabin, where the rest of the watch were engaged in their recitations.
“Stokes says, that, with entire respect for you, Capt. Fairfield, he has decided not to attend any recitations,” said Lawring, reporting to the instructor.
“Indeed! and did you see Gregory and Clinch?” inquired the astonished teacher.
“They were all in the mess-room forward, sir.”
“What does this mean? did they assign any reason for their conduct?”