“It can’t be done, my hearty,” replied Peaks.
“I’m going down, any way.”
“I think not, my little gentleman.”
“Yes, I am! Get out of my way.”
“Ease off, my hearty. Don’t get up a squall.”
“I want to see my mother,” growled Clyde.
“You were not invited to the cabin, and your mother was,” answered Peaks, very mildly.
“I don’t care if I wasn’t; I’m going down.”
“So you said before;” and the boatswain tried to pacify the youngster, and to induce him to be reasonable; but Clyde had always had his own way, and was ready to fight for it now, even though he had nothing to gain by it.
Captain Cumberland was still walking with Miss Celia, explaining to her the nature of the discipline on board, and giving her an account of the voyage across the Atlantic. A group of the officers had collected on the quarter-deck, and, much amused at the scene, were observing the conduct of Clyde. As he became more violent, his sister tried to quiet him, and induce him to behave like a gentleman; but he replied to her in a tone and with words which made the captain’s cheeks tinge with indignation.