“Come here,” said the skipper.
“Anything wrong?” inquired the mate, retreating a couple of paces in disorder.
“Come—here!” repeated the skipper.
The mate advanced slowly, and in response to an imperative command from the skipper slowly descended and stood regarding him nervously.
“Yes; you may look,” said the skipper, with sudden ferocity. “This is all your doing. Where are you going?”
He caught the mate by the coat as he was making for the ladder, and hauled him back again.
“You'll go when I've finished with you,” he said, grimly. “Now, what do you mean by it? Eh? What do you mean by it?”
“That's all right,” said the mate, in a soothing voice. “Don't get excited.”
“Look at me!” said the skipper. “All through your interfering. How dare you go making inquiries about me?”
“Me?” said the mate, backing as far as possible. “Inquiries?”