Part 25 (2/2)
”But it is necessary that one watch should be on deck all the time.”
”Can you tell me why it was necessary to have the starboard watch go to dinner first?”
”I cannot; it is the captain's business to order, and mine to obey,”
replied the mate.
”It isn't our business to obey any such orders as that,” said Tom.
”Come, Paul, let us all go below, and have our dinner.”
”I shall obey orders,” replied Paul, decidedly.
”On deck, there! What's the matter?” called Captain Gordon, from the cabin.
”There is a mutiny in the larboard watch,” replied the mate, with a smile.
Tom and Frank did not wait for any more explanations, and began to descend the ladder into the cabin.
”Stop, boys! what does this mean?” demanded Captain Gordon, rising from the table.
”It means that we are going to have our dinners; that is all,” replied Tom, who had by this time reached the cabin floor.
”But my orders were, that the larboard watch should remain on deck.”
”We don't care for that.”
”You don't, eh?” And Captain Gordon was evidently very much surprised, for whatever he had expected, he certainly had not antic.i.p.ated a mutiny the first day out.
”Wasn't my order a reasonable one?” he continued.
”No, sir! It was not.”
”It is necessary that one watch should be on deck while the vessel is under sail.”
”That may be; but it wasn't necessary that _your_ watch should go to dinner first,” replied Tom.
”Will you return to your duty, or not?”
”No, _sir_!”
”You had better consider well what you are doing, Tom, before you go any farther. Captain Littleton placed me in command of the yacht, and expressly directed me to do everything I have done, so far; and especially to keep one watch on deck all the time, while we are under sail. Now, those of you who are willing to return to your duty and obey orders, as you promised Captain Littleton, go on deck again.”
Not one of the four boys accepted this polite invitation.
”Then I am to settle this question with these four,” added the captain.
”There's no settling about it; we are going to have our dinner; that's all,” said Tom, pus.h.i.+ng forward towards the table; but Captain Gordon placed himself before him, and prevented his farther progress.
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