"He say he no goin' to stand watch to-night, sir."
"Why not? is he sick?"
"I don't know 'f he call sick. I call drunk, sir."
"O that's it? Well, we'll see about that."
The second mate put his head over the scuttle, and listened a moment. Burley was laying down law and logic at a terrible rate, in spite of the remonstrances of his watchmates, who entreated him either to go on deck or else turn in, and let others have rest and quiet.
"I know my rights, and I'm the man to stand up for 'em!" said Burley. "I'm not going to stand a watch to-night, and I'd just like to see the live man that would make me go on deck!"
"Here he is then!" said Mr. Dunham, as, clearing the ladder with a swing of his body, he landed on his feet by the side of the astonished sea-lawyer.
"On deck, sir, at once, before I put you there!"
Burley turned his head and caught the second mate's eye. His Dutch courage failed him altogether. He found the upper deck so quick that the officer would not have found it easy to overtake him, had he been disposed to assault him; though he evidently did not consider him worth wasting wrath upon.