Part 27 (1/2)
”Oh, yes, sir, I struck him. I hit him as hard as I could.”
”Where did you hit him?”
”Plumb on the nose, sir.”
”What excuse have you to offer for a.s.saulting a man who already, according to your own admission, was injured?”
”He called me a liar, sir; then afterwards he called me a coward. I couldn't stand that, sir.”
”Is that all?”
”I think so, sir.”
”Oh, why doesn't he tell the captain about Kester's having knocked him down,” groaned Dan, who had, from a prudent distance, been an interested listener to the examination.
”You have admitted that you struck the man; you have admitted that you inflicted the wound which, it appears, is of more than ordinary seriousness, as it may cause his disfigurement for life.”
Sam made no reply to this. None seemed to be called for under the circ.u.mstances. Somehow he felt that he had made out a very bad case for himself. He had told nothing but the truth, and not all of that, so far as his own vindication went, and yet he knew he had been placed in a false light.
”I'm in wrong, but I've got no one except myself to blame for it,”
thought Sam.
The captain consulted with his executive officer for a moment. Then turning to the prisoner he said, gravely:
”Hickey, you are guilty of a very serious breach of discipline. You are a new man on board s.h.i.+p. Were it not for that fact I should be much more severe. I am inclined to be lenient with you under the circ.u.mstances.
You will understand that punishments are wholly impersonal. They are punishments because some rule has been violated. Discipline must be maintained.”
”Yes, sir,” answered Sam meekly.
”Silence!” warned the master-at-arms.
”I hope you will not forget the lesson. Control your temper. Unless you are able to manage your own temper you will never be fit to manage other men. You will have to conquer yourself before you can look for promotion in the service.”
”Yes, sir.”
”You will be placed in the brig for two days, on bread and water, with one full ration in the middle of the second day. And, Kester!”
”Yes, sir.”
”Your record in the past has not been any too good. I trust I shall not hear of your getting into further trouble. You have been long enough in the service to know how to keep out of mischief.”
The captain motioned to the master-at-arms to remove the prisoner.
Sam Hickey, with head erect, saluted his superior officers, faced about, marching steadily ahead of the master-at-arms, on his way to be punished for an offense that he felt sure he had not committed.
”I wish I'd hit Kester harder, while I was about it,” Hickey muttered.
”I'm sorry, lad, but discipline is discipline,” remarked the petty officer as he clanged the door of the brig on Hickey.