sure was--

"Taking him to the skipper."

For the captain was not in his cabin, but walking up and down the
quarter-deck with his hands clasped behind him, and the telescope which
had made Mr Reardon so angry under his left arm.

As we reached the deck he was going aft, so we followed him, and timed
our pace so that when he turned we had only a step or two to take to be
facing him.

"Yes, Mr Reardon," he said in response to our salute, "anything fresh?"

"Yes, sir, something very fresh. Will you listen to what Mr Herrick
has to say?"

"Certainly," he replied, and he made room for me on his right Mr
Reardon placed himself on my right, and as I narrated all I had said
before as nearly as I could, they marched me up and down between them,
from the binnacle to the end of the quarter-deck, turned and marched me
back again.

As we approached the rail I could see Barkins and Smith watching us with
all their eyes, and as we came in sight again they were still watching
intently, evidently in the full belief that I was being, as we should
have called it, wigged tremendously. And certainly they had some excuse
for this idea, for I had been summoned by the first lieutenant, taken
into his cabin, talked to, and then marched off to the captain. It
almost looked like being dismissed from the ship in their eyes, and now
I could see them scanning my features with intense interest for sight of
my breaking down.

The captain heard me out, and then listened to Mr Reardon's objections.

"Yes," he said quietly at last, "that's very true, Mr Reardon, but we
must not let an opportunity slip. I was intending to sail to-morrow for
the north; now we will sail which way the junks lead. That will do for
the present, Mr Herrick, and I thank you for your diligence in Her
Majesty's service."

I touched my cap and went to the ladder, and as I descended there were
my two messmates coming towards me.

Trying to make my face as mobile as possible, I stretched it here and
there into wrinkles, and was walking straight along the deck looking the
image of despair, when they stopped me.

"Serve you right!" said Smith exultantly. "There, be off below, and
don't let the men all see what a setting-down you have had."

I gave each of them a piteous look, turned as they had suggested, and
hurried down to our cabin to have a good laugh all to myself.

To my surprise, though, they followed me, Barkins to seat himself on the
table, and Smith t