Part 29 (1/2)
”Get out! Hold your row,” growled the other, protesting.
”Yes, what does he say?” I cried eagerly.
”That if we was to shut 'em up close in the dark and not go anigh, sir, till to-morrow morning, there wouldn't be nothing left but one o' their tails.”
”Like the Kilkenny cats, eh?” I said, laughing; and I went back on deck with the desire to see the prisoners stronger than ever.
Captain Thwaites was on the quarter-deck, marching up and down, and the men were hard at work cleaning up, squaring the yards, and repainting.
The spars were up in their places again, and the _Teaser_ was rapidly resuming her old aspect, when I saw Mr Reardon go up to the captain.
”I'll ask leave,” I said. ”He has been pretty civil;” and I made up my mind to wait till the lieutenant came away.
”No, I won't,” I said. ”I'll go and ask the captain when he has gone.”
The next moment I felt that this would not do, for Mr Reardon would be sure to know, and feel vexed because I had not asked him.
”I'll go and ask leave while they are both together,” I said to myself.
”That's the way.”
But I knew it wasn't, and took a turn up and down till I saw Mr Reardon salute and come away, looking very intent and busy.
I waited till he was pretty close, and then started to intercept him.
His keen eye was on me in an instant.
”Bless my soul, Mr Herrick!” he cried, ”what are you doing? Surely your duty does not bring you here?”
”No, sir,” I said, saluting. ”I beg your pardon, sir; I've been going backward and forward to Mr Barkins and Mr Smith.”
”Ho! Pair of young noodles; what did they want in the boats? Getting hurt like that. Well?”
”Beg pardon, sir; would you mind giving me permission to see the prisoners?”
”What! why?”
”I wanted to see them, sir, and go back and tell my messmates about how they looked.”
”Humbug!” he cried. ”Look here, sir, do you think I have nothing else to do but act as a wild-beast showman, to gratify your impertinent curiosity? Let the miserable wretches be.”
”Yes, sir.”
”And be off to your cabin and study your navigation, sir. Your ignorance of the simplest matters is fearful. At your age you ought to be as well able to use a s.e.xtant as I am.”
”Beg pardon, sir, I am trying.”
”Then be off and try more, and let me see some results.”
I touched my cap, drew back, and the lieutenant marched on.