'Well, if it comes to that, d'you mean to say you don't believe me?' Ginger jerked out.
'No, I'm hanged if I do! you've got hold of the wrong end of the stick,' I said hotly.
'But, my dear chap, the Padre said——'
'I don't care a hang for your Padre—our Engineer Commander——'
'Then you won't take any notice of it?' Ginger was getting excited now.
'None,' I said, 'except to report your mid.'
'You won't cane your chap?'
'No, I'm hanged if I will. It was young Bob Temple, he's too stupid to try and do a thing like that. Your boat was simply poaching—I'm hanged if I'll cane him.'
Ginger's face looked as angry as mine felt, and he burst out with: 'Thank goodness, I haven't got a cousin aboard my ship, and ain't in love with his sister!'
Well, that finished me, and I swung off that if he thought that was why I didn't cane him he was welcome to think so for the rest of his blooming existence.