."

"Then you are quite wrong."

"If I'm wrong you told a regular crammer not half-an-hour ago, for you
said you'd give anything for a turn with the grains this morning."

"I have no recollection of saying anything of the kind," said the lad
angrily.

"What a memory! I certainly thought I heard you say so to Tom May; and
there he is with the line and the jolly old trident all ready. There,
come on and let's ask the chief."

"If you want to go idling, go and ask him for yourself. I'm going down
to our dog-hole of a place to study navigation in the dark."

"Don't believe you, Dicky."

"You can believe what you please, sir," said Roberts coldly.

"All right. I'm off, and I shall ask leave for us both."

"You dare! I forbid it," cried Roberts angrily.

"All right," said Murray, turning on his heel, "but I shall ask for us
both, and if you mean to forbid it you'd better come with me to the
skipper."

Murray waited a few moments, standing watching the captain where he was
marching up and down the quarter-deck, and timing himself so as to meet
him full as he walked forward.

Roberts hesitated for a few moments and then followed closely, looking
fiercely determined the while.

"Well, Mr Murray," said the captain sharply, as he became aware of the
presence of the lad, who touched his cap. "What is it--a petition?"

"Yes, sir. A good many bonito are playing about the bows."

"Yes; I saw them, my lad. Want to go fishing--harpooning?"

"Yes, sir. Roberts and I."

"Oh yes, of course, my lad. A good time for it, and I shall expect a
nice dish for the cabin table. But look here, Mr Murray, I like to
keep to the little forms of the service, and in cases of this sort you
had better ask Mr Anderson for leave. You understand?"

"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir," said Murray.

"No, no; I have not given you permission. Ask Mr Anderson. He will
give you leave at once."

Murray saluted; the captain marched on; and directly after the two
midshipmen were face to face.

"Then you have dared--" began Roberts.

"Yes, all right," said Murray, laughing to himself, for he noticed that
his companion spoke in a low tone of voice so that his words might not
be heard by their chief. "Yes, it's all right, only we're to ask
Anderson."

"Yes, I heard what the skipper said, but I tell you at once I'm not
going to stoop to do anything of the kind. Do you think I'm going to
degrade myself by begging for leave again?"