ore to the
purpose, _I_ didn't knock under. So I'm coming with you; for old Price
won't, he says firmly, give me another lesson until I apologise too.
You may guess, old chap, that I'll have a fine long holiday at that
rate, if--if the governor don't get to hear about it, of course!' ended
Alick rather lamely.

'Oh!' Ned gasped understandingly. He could readily enough picture the
result of the captain's taking up the matter. Fireworks would be
nothing to the general flare-up, in that case, the fisher-lad privately
told himself.

Alick next proceeded to plan out the morrow's campaign, and by the time
the Dempsters' cottage was reached, it was agreed that Alick should
make his escape as early as possible from the Bunk, in order that he
might start with Jerry Blunt and Ned before anybody was astir to
prevent him. Then, with mutual promises of secrecy, the two parted.

CHAPTER XI

A TANGLED WEB

When the Carnegys sat down to dinner that day there was that subtle air
of constraint which is the result of family jars--an electric
disturbance in the home atmosphere which each and all feel. Theo, at
the head of the table, looked grave and pained. Geoff was
uncomfortable also, and, in his awkwardness, overtalked himself, in a
frantic desire to smooth matters. Queenie and the captain himself were
the only members of the family at their ease; while as for Alick, he
sat sullen and dumb, brooding over his self-made wrongs.

'Well,' said the master of the house towards the end of the meal, 'have
you boys come to your senses yet, hey? Has order been restored on the
decks? I strongly advised Price to read the Riot Act; I hope he did
so, hey?' The captain began dimly to be aware of the prevailing
constraint, and then suddenly he recollected the tutor's complaining
report, which had dropped out of his mind two minutes after it was
spoken.

Nobody spoke in answer. The captain glared, over the top of his
glasses, round the party; but Theo and Geoff would not for worlds have
told tales. Each felt that silence was the best policy under the
circumstances.

Queenie at last, observing, with some surprise, the unusual hush, took
it upon her small self to reply.

'Alick's been so good! He has mended all my doll-ladies' broken legs,
and the canary's head, too; and he has made such a bewful new tail for
the old horse--the grey horse, you remember, father, what lost his tail
when he was quite young. And Alick's tidied