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his hands behind his back and stalked off, leaving the two lads looking at each other. "That's nice," said Murray, in a whisper. "Lovely!" whispered back Roberts. "And this isn't the worst of it," said Murray softly; "here comes Anderson." "Oh, I do feel so bad!" muttered Roberts. "I'll tell him so." "Well, young gentlemen," said the lieutenant, coming up, "I hope the captain has taken you both well to task." "Yes, sir, he has," said Murray, with a drily comical look upon his countenance. "I'm sure if you had heard him you wouldn't think it necessary to say another word." The lieutenant gave the lad a severe look, frowning hard, and he was evidently about to say something sharp, but after being silent for a few moments his face relaxed and he smiled pleasantly. "Well," he said, turning again to Murray, "I will take it for granted that you have both had a thoroughly good talking to, and I will say no more." "Thank you, sir," said Murray, with a sigh of relief. The lieutenant turned upon him sharply. "Yes," he said, "I suppose you do mean that. Well, Mr Roberts, I hope you feel none the worse?" "No, sir; yes, sir, I--no sir, not at all the worse." "I am glad of it. But you had a very narrow escape. Your life was saved by Murray's bravery. A very gallant action, my lad--manly and brave; but no more of such gallant actions, if you please. I have quite enough responsibilities in connection with my duties on this ship without being worried with a pack of boys risking their lives for the sake of catching a fish or two, so let me have no more of it. Do you hear? There, you need not speak." The lieutenant turned short round and marched away frowning, leaving the lads looking at one another for a few minutes, before Murray whispered, "Come along forward," with the result that they made for a favourite spot where, well out of sight of the quarter-deck, they could rest their folded arms upon the rail and gaze down into the transparent water which glided by the sloop's cut-water with hardly a ripple, so soft was the breeze which filled the crowd of canvas that had been set. "I thought we should get it," said Roberts, after a few minutes' silence. "Oh, never mind, old chap," said his companion quietly. "You got off pretty easy." "I did? Oh, come; it was you who got off easy. `A very gallant act,' didn't he say?" "Something of the kind." "Yes; `a very gallant act.' You always g
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