"I think Ching ought to know best," I said.
"Perhaps so," he replied. "We shall see. Come on now to the captain."
He opened the door, and I followed. I had forgotten all about Barkins
and Smith for the time, but now all that had passed occurred to my mind,
and I felt certain that they would be waiting somewhere to meet me and
make sport of the tremendous setting-down which I had had.
I was not wrong: they were talking together amidships, just where they
could command the companion-way, and as soon as we appeared I saw
Smith's features expand into a malicious grin, while Barkins remained
perfectly stolid.
As we passed to the ladder Smith looked after us wonderingly, and I saw
him turn and whisper something, which I felt sure was--
"Taking him to the skipper."
For the captain was not in his cabin, but walking up and down the
quarter-deck with his hands clasped behind him, and the telescope which
had made Mr Reardon so angry under his left arm.
As we reached the deck he was going aft, so we followed him, and timed
our pace so that when he turned we had only a step or two to take to be
facing him.
"Yes, Mr Reardon," he said in response to our salute, "anything fresh?"
"Yes, sir, something very fresh. Will you listen to what Mr Herrick
has to say?"
"Certainly," he replied, and he made room for me on his right Mr
Reardon placed himself on my right, and as I narrated all I had said
before as nearly as I could, they marched me up and down between them,
from the binnacle to the end of the quarter-deck, turned and marched me
back again.
As we approached the rail I could see Barkins and Smith watching us with
all their eyes, and as we came in sight again they were still watching
intently, evidently in the full belief that I was being, as we should
have called it, wigged tremendously. And certainly they had some excuse
for this idea, for I had been summoned by the first lieutenant, taken
into his cabin, talked to, and then marched off to the captain. It
almost looked like being dismissed from the ship in their eyes, and now
I could see them scanning my features with intense interest for sight of
my breaking down.
The captain heard me out, and then listened to Mr Reardon's objections.
"Yes," he said quietly at last, "that's very true, Mr Reardon, but we
must not let an opportunity slip. I was intending to sail to-morrow for
the north; now we will sail which way the junks lead. That will do for
the present, Mr Herrick, and I thank you for your diligence in Her
Majesty's service."
I touched my cap and went to the ladder, and as I descended there were
my two messmates coming towards me.
Trying to make my face as mobile as possible, I stretched it here and
there into wrinkles, and was walking straight along the deck looking the
image of despair, when they stopped me.
"Serve you right!" said Smith exultantly. "There, be off below, and
don't let the men all see what a setting-down you have had."
I gave each of them a piteous look, turned as they had suggested, and
hurried down to our cabin to have a good laugh all to myself.
To my surprise, though, they followed me, Barkins to seat himself on the
table, and Smith to lean up against the door.
"Well, Skeeter," said the latter, "you've had it pretty hot. Serve you
right for being sarcy; you'll behave better next time."
"I hope so," I said meekly.
"Dishy gave you his lecture, then, and walked you off to the skipper,
eh?"
"Yes," I said.
"Well, it's of no use for you to be grumpy. You've had your lesson, and
now you've got to behave yourself."
"Yes."
"And I am very glad to see you are so humble. Aren't you, Tanner?"
"Yes," said Barkins gruffly.
"You see it won't do for a little gnat of a fellow to think he is going
to do what he likes on board one of Her Majesty's ships. It was quite
time you were taken down a few pegs--wasn't it, Tanner?"
"I suppose so," said Barkins.
"Then I don't see that it's any use for us to jump upon him, and show
bad blood."
"No, not a bit," cried Barkins, with more animation. "We won't."
"No, I said we wouldn't; so look here, youngster: we're going to forgive
you, if you promise to behave better and do as you're bid. This isn't
school, you know, where a boy can set himself up against his elders, but
the Queen's service, where every one has his place, and has to keep it
too--mind that. There, that's all I've got to say."
"And very nicely said too," I replied.
He looked at me sharply, but my face was like marble, and he concluded
that I had spoken seriously, for he turned to Barkins--
"There, Tanner, I've done; now it's your turn."
"What for?"
"To give him a few words."
"Oh, I don't think I want to say anything," said Barkins slowly. "I'm
sorry the poor little beggar got into such a row."
"It'll do him good."
"I hope so," said Barkins slowly and reluctantly, and there was rather a
mournful look in his eyes as he spoke.
"You'd better give him a few words of advice," said Smith in an off-hand
tone.
"Oh no, he's had enough jawing. I shan't say anything."
"Thank you, Tanner," I said.
"Oh, all right," he cried, and he held out his hand and shook mine,
brightening up the next moment, and looking as pleased as if he had just
got a great trouble off his mind.
"You needn't be in such a jolly hurry to forgive him," said Smith in a
remonstrant tone; "he has been a cheeky little beggar, and deserved all
he got."
"But it isn't nice to be wigged, all the same," said Barkins sharply.
"No, but it don't matter if you deserved it. Now then, Gnat, tell us
what Dishy said."
"What about?" I asked innocently.
"What about? Why, your associating with Ching so much."
"Oh, that!" I cried.
"Oh, that!" he said, mocking my way of speaking. "Why, what did you
think I meant?"
"I don't know."
"Well, what did he say?"
"Nothing at all."
"What! no lies now."
"Who's telling lies? He didn't say a word about it. We had something
of more consequence to talk about."
"Now, Tanner, hark at that. Did you ever hear such a miserable cheeky
little beggar in your life? It's of no use; we must give him a regular
good towelling."
"Better tell us what the luff said, Gnat," growled Barkins, in so
strange an accession of gruffness that I began to laugh.
"Why, what's the matter with you?" I said. "Don't gruff and grow
hoarse like that."
"Can't help it; got a cold, I s'pose," he cried. "But I say, stop it
now; we want to be friends. Tell us what the luff said."
"Precious little," I replied. "I did all the speaking till we went up
on the quarter-deck."
"Don't listen to him," cried Smith, growing wroth with me. "I never saw
such cheek. One tries to be friends with him, but it's of no use;
directly you open your mouth he jumps down your throat."
"Then you shouldn't have such a big mouth, Smithy," I said sharply, and
then the storm burst.
Tanner roared with laughter, for the width of Smith's mouth had often
been food for our mirth; and, as Barkins afterwards said, my remark came
out so pat.
"Look here," cried Smith, "I'm not going to stand this sort of thing.
You may be fool enough to put up with it, but I won't."
"If you call me a fool I'll punch your head, Smithy," growled Barkins.
"No, you won't," was the retort; "and that's the way you take sides
against me, and encourage the miserable little beggar in his impudent
ways? Now then, you Herrick, you've got to go down on your knees and
beg my pardon, and then tell me everything the skipper and the first
luff said."
"When?" I asked coolly.
"When? Why, now, directly," cried Smith fiercely. "Now then, no
nonsense," he cried, seizing me by the collar; but I wrested myself
away, and in the slight struggle sent him staggering against Barkins.
"Now then, keep off me, please," growled Barkins.
"Keep off yourself; why don't you get out of the way?"
"How was I to know that a blundering idiot was coming up against me?"
"It'll tell you when I've done with the Gnat," said Smith angrily; for I
had unintentionally hurt his arm. "Now you, Skeeter."
"Let him alone," said Barkins gruffly.
"When I've done with him," said Smith; "you could have had first go at
him if you had liked."
"I don't want to hit the little fellow, I'm not overbearing like you
are. Let him alone, I say."
"I shall let him alone when I choose," retorted Smith fiercely. "I'm
not going to let our junior ride roughshod over me, if you're fool
enough to."
"I shall be fool enough to kick you out of the cabin if you touch him,"
cried Barkins angrily. "I won't have him bullied; and it was a mean
sneaking thing to go telling tales as you did to old Dishy."
"Look here," cried Smith, "if any one is a sneak it's you, for harking
back and taking the miserable little beggar's side."
"Never mind about that; you let him alone."
"Oh, I say, Tanner," I said, "don't quarrel with him about me. What he
said did no harm. Mr Reardon was as friendly as could be."
"That's a cracker," cried Smith sharply.
At that moment a marine came to the door.
"First lieutenant wants to see Mr Herrick directly."
"Yes; where is he?" I said, smiling--purposely, of course.
"With the cap'n, sir, on the quarter-deck."
"All right; I'll be there directly."
The man saluted and marched off, while I followed to the door, where I
turned, thrust in my head, and said banteringly--
"Now be good boys and don't fight while I'm gone."
_Bang_!
A book off the table, flung by Smith, struck the door which I was
holding half open, for I saw the missile coming, and dodged it. Then I
popped my head in again.
"Don't take any notice of him, Tanner," I cried; "he's bilious. Thankye
for sticking up for me. Can I say a word for you to the captain?"
"Here, get up," cried Smith, with a snarl. "Touch your hat to him.
He's promoted; and they'll send poor old Brooke a step lower. All hail,
Lieutenant Skeeter!"
"All right!" I cried, and I hurried away, leaving Barkins looking as if
he could not believe his ears.
The next minute I was facing the captain and Mr Reardon.