“‘Well, I don’t,’ ses the mate, his voice trembling with passion. ‘I ’ave my reasons.’
“‘I s’pose you don’t think these two poor fellows went and blacked themselves for fun, do you?’ ses the skipper.
“The mate couldn’t answer.
“‘And then went and knocked themselves about for more fun?’ ses the skipper, very sarcastic.
“The mate didn’t answer. He looked round helpless like, and see the third officer swopping glances with the second, and all the men looking sly and amused, and I think if ever a man saw ’e was done ’e did at that moment.
“He turned away and went below, and the skipper arter reading us all a little lecture on getting into fights without reason, sent the two chaps below agin and told ’em to turn in and rest. He was so good to ’em all the way ’ome, and took sich a interest in seeing ’em change from black to brown and from light brown to spotted lemon, that the mate daren’t do nothing to them, but gave us their share of what he owed them, as well as an extra dose of our own.”