mean look here with understanding, sir. I used to be with a skipper
who was a downright savage if we got beaten off, and threatened to flog
us. But if we won, and boarded a ship and took her, he'd laugh at our
hurts and come round and shake hands and call us his brave lads."

"But what has that to do with uncle seeing me in this horrible state?"

"Why, don't you see, sir?" cried the sailor, eagerly. "He's a captain,
and a fighting man."

Aleck frowned, but the sailor did not notice it, and went on:

"You ups and tells him that Big Jem and the pack o' blackguard riff-raff
come and 'sulted yer and said what you wouldn't tell me. The captain
wouldn't want you to put up with that. I know the captain 'most as well
as you do. `Hullo!' he says; `what ha' you been doing--how did you get
in that condition?' he says--just like that. Then you ups and tells him
you had it out with Big Jem and the rest. `What for, sir?' he says--
just like that. `For saying,'--you know what, sir--you says, and tells
him right out, though you wouldn't tell me. `And you let that big,
ugly, blackguardly warmint thrash you like that?' he says, in his fierce
way--just like that. Then your turn comes, and you ups and says, 'most
as chuff as he does: `No, uncle,' you says, `I give him the orflest
leathering he ever had in his life.' `Did you, Aleck?' he says, rubbing
his hands together, joyful like. `Well done, my boy,' he says; `I like
that. I wish I'd been there to see. Brayvo!--Now go and wash your face
and brush your clothes and 'air.'"

"Think he would, Tom?"

"Sure on it, sir. I wouldn't ha' answered for him if you'd gone back
with your tail between your legs, reg'larly whipped; but seeing how you
can go back and cry cock-a-doodle-doo!--"

"Like a dog, Tom?" said Aleck, grimly, with a feeling of amusement at
the way in which his companion was mixing up his metaphors.

"Like a dog, sir? Tchah! Dogs can't crow. You know what I mean.
Seeing how you can go back with your colours flying, the captain'll feel
proud on yer, and if he's the gentleman I take him for he'll cut yer a
bit o' sticking plaster himself. What you've got to do is to go
straight to his cabin and speak out like a man."

"Yes, Tom, I mean to--but, Tom--" continued the lad, in a hesitating
way.

"Ay ay, sir; what is it?"

"Did you ever hear any of the fishermen say anything against my uncle?"

"Eh? Oh, I've heered them gawsip and talk together when they'