“Upon my honor, then,” replied Jack, “there can be no doubt of his zeal; for if the whole country had been at stake, he could not have put himself in a greater passion.”
“Then he did his duty; but depend upon it, it was not a pleasant one to him; and I’ll answer for it, when you meet him on board, he will be as friendly with you as if nothing had happened.”
“He told me that he’d soon make me know what a first lieutenant was: what did he mean by that?” inquired Jack.
“All zeal.”
“Yes, but he said that as soon as he got on board, he’d show me the difference between a first lieutenant and a midshipman.”
“All zeal.”
“He said my ignorance should be a little enlightened by and by.”
“All zeal.”
“And that he’d send a sergeant and marines to fetch me.”
“All zeal.”