“Time enough for that. I suppose the ship will stay here two or three days—won’t she?”
“Perhaps a week. I suppose we shall go on shore this afternoon, and see the sights.”
“I say, Scott, if you tell those officers what I’ve been saying to you, I’ll serve you in the same way,” added Clyde, as for the first time it occurred to him that he had been imprudent in developing his plans to another.
“No! You won’t lick me, too—will you?”
“Not if you behave like a man, and don’t peach,” answered Clyde, in a patronizing tone.
“I will try to be a good boy, then,” laughed Scott.
“I only want to catch them on shore, where I can have fair play. I’m not to be fagged by any fellow that ever was born.”
Clyde walked uneasily about the deck till the crew were piped to dinner, evidently thinking how he should carry his big intentions into execution. To one less moved by fancied insults and indignities the case would have looked hopeless. He devoured his dinner in a much shorter period than is usually allotted by well-bred Englishmen to that pleasing diversion, and hastened on deck again. Peaks was there, acting as ship-keeper, while the carpenter was painting the second cutter, the repairs upon which had been completed. The big boatswain was seated on one of the cat-heads, where he could see the entire deck of the ship, and observe every craft that approached her. The new student observed his position, and thought he was seated in a very careless manner. A very wicked thought took possession of the Briton’s mind, and he ascended to the top-gallant forecastle. The boatswain sat very composedly on the cat-head, with his feet hanging over the water, and was just then studying the beauties of the landscape. A very slight exercise of force would displace him, and drop him into the water.
“Well, my hearty, you stowed your grub in a hurry,” said Peaks, when he discovered the new pupil.
“I was not very hungry, and thought I would take another look at the town,” replied Clyde. “What’s that big building off there, near the hills?”