Part 46 (1/2)
”No, Mas' Don, you mustn't speak like that”
”And you must not speak like that, Jem,--_Master Don_ You'll have some of the men hear you”
”Well, I'll mind; but you mustn't think any more about that, oing to hit him, weren't you?”
”Yes, Jem, I'm afraid I was I always feel like that if I'm hurt”
”But you s looks rather ugly, somehow Think the captain will punish you?”
”We shall see, Jem”
”But hadn't we better--I say, my lad,” he whispered, ”we could swiot hiht away, for I've been thinking, Mas' Don, it's a very horrid thing to have hit your officer”
”But I didn't hit hi to, Mas' Don,” whispered Je away”
Don shook his head
”Why, you was red hot on it the other day, reat deal about it since, Jem; and it see's sailors”
”But not if you were going to be punished for doing nothing”
”N-o, Je hit as the captain hit you”
”N-no, Jem; but--but somehow--There, don't say any more about it now”
CHAPTER TWENTY THREE
BEFORE THE CAPTAIN
Bosun Jones was right in his hint The captain forgot all about Don's offence as soon as he was comfortable and rested He had struck out in his hasty irritation, but his anger soon passed, and had the hed, and said that it was the boy's nature to resent being struck, and that he would make the better sailor
The tih in the beautiful harbour, and every day a boat went ashore with a surveying or exploring party, all of ere examined and cross-examined by their messmates on their return, as to the habits of the New Zealand savages, and many a yarn was invented about the Maoris' acts
Both Don and Jeh, and the days glided by rapidly; but the opportunity was never given Don for joining one of the exploring parties In every case he was told he was too row into a man some day,” Jem used to say
The Maoris were quite friendly, and the very stringent rules made at first were relaxed The officers and men ent ashore were always ares allowed to visit the shi+p; but the boarding netting was dispensed with, and it was not deemed necessary to double the sentries
More than once parties of men were allowed on shore, and upon these occasions Don and Jelishman