"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 a.s.sociating 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 hoa.r.s.e 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."