“There’s your berth,” said Fraser, indicating it with a nod.
Ben grunted in reply, and being disinclined for conversation, busied himself with the meal, and as soon as he had finished went up on deck.
“Wot yer been down there for, Bennie?” asked Joe, severely, as he appeared; “your tea’s all cold.”
“I’ve ’ad my breakfast with the skipper,” said Ben, shortly.
“You was always fond of your stummick, Bennie,” said Joe, shaking his head, sorrowfully. “I don’t think much of a man wot leaves his old mates for a bit o’ bacon.”
The new mate turned away from him haughtily, “Tim,” he said, sharply.
“Yes, Ben,” said the youth. “Why, wot’s the matter? Wot are you looking like that for? Ain’t you well?” “Wot did you call me?” demanded the new mate.
“I didn’t call you anything,” said the startled Tim.
“Let me ’ear you call me Ben ag’in and you’ll hear of it,” said the other, sharply. “Go and clean the brasswork.”
The youth strolled off, gasping, with an envious glance at the cook, who, standing just inside the galley, cheerfully flaunted a saucepan he was cleaning, as though defying the mate to find him any work to do.