The Captain went forward on the poop, and a moment afterward a young officer appeared coming aft. He saluted the Governor and stood attention.
"Mr. Johnson, it is your watch on deck, sir. What was that going about on board the Black Eagle?" inquired Dunmore.
"I d-d-do not k-k-know,—your"—
"Call the Corporal of the guard, sir. Don't stand there and stammer at me, sir," cried the Governor, interrupting him and waxing furious.
The poor lieutenant retreated to the break of the poop, closely followed by his master, but he was too excited to speak plainly.
"Corp'ral g-g-g'ard! Corp'ral g-g-g'ard!" he cried weakly, but there was no response from the main deck.
"What are you doing, sir!" thundered Dunmore as he came up behind him.
"Trying t-t-to c-c-call the Corporal of the g-g-g'ard, your"—
"For God's sake, Mr. Johnson call somebody. Call somebody, sir, quick," cried his lordship, walking to and fro across the deck and wringing his hands. Then, as he came to where the Lieutenant stood, he could stand it no longer and waxed into a frenzy.