"Certainly, sir, if you desire it," replied Paul, giving the necessary
order.

"May I ask for a few moments' private conversation with you?" added the
professor, as he led the way aft.

The learned gentleman seemed to be considerably excited, and conducted
the captain to the taffrail.

"I protest against your action in this matter," said he, warmly, when
they were out of hearing of others.

"Indeed, sir! I supposed you would protest if I did not take decided
action."

"I am sorry to feel obliged to say, that you do not use good judgment in
this case," continued Mr. Hamblin, solemnly. "When that rope was thrown
upon me, you took no notice of it. I do not hear that the crew of the
first cutter have been called to account for their carelessness in
throwing me into the water last night; but, in this instance, where the
guilty party has begged my pardon on his bended knees, and shown a
degree of sorrow which it would be inhuman to disregard, you resort to
the severest punishment known on board."

"You will excuse me, Mr. Hamblin, but I think my action is fully
justified by the circumstances."

"I think not. You are extremely severe in this case, while the more
flagrant act of throwing me into the river, whether it was a wilful or a
careless one, was passed over in silence."

"It was not passed over in silence. I examined the officer of the boat,
and I found that the accident was caused by the breaking of a boat-hook
in the hands of one of the bowmen. If you will pardon me for being
entirely candid with you, Mr. Hamblin, the mishap was caused by your own
carelessness, rather than by that of the boat's crew."

"Do you mean to insult me?" demand the professor, angrily.

"Most assuredly not, sir. If you had kept your seat in the stern-sheets
of the boat, as a passenger should, until the cutter was properly
secured, you could not possibly have fallen overboard when the boat-hook
broke," answered Paul, gently and firmly.

"I do not ask your judgment upon my actions, Mr. Kendall," growled the
professor.

"Excuse me, sir; but I alluded to your movement only in defence of the
boat's crew. If the bowmen had actually intended to throw you into the
water, they could not have done it if you had kept your seat."

"It is not proper for you to criticise my action."

Paul bowed, and made no reply.

"I protest against your action in punishing McDougal. He apologized to
my satisfaction; and, as this is an affair personal