A most disrespekful way to come to the cap'n, but
he was that hot and excited he didn't care what he did.
"'Mr. Salmon,' ses the cap'n gravely, 'I've just had a most solemn
warning, and I want to--'
"'I know,' says the mate gruffly.
"'What! have you heard it too?' ses the cap'n, in surprise. 'Three
times?' "I heard it from him,' ses the mate, pointing to me. 'Nightmare,
sir, nightmare.'
"'It was not nightmare, sir,' ses the cap'n, very huffy, 'an if I hear
it again, I 'm going to alter this ship's course.'
"Well, the fust mate was in a hole. He wanted to call the skipper
something which he knew wasn't discipline. I knew what it was, an' I
knew if the mate didn't do something he'd be ill, he was that sort of
man, everything flew to his head. He walked away, and put his head over
the side for a bit, an' at last, when he came back, he was,
comparatively speaking, calm.
"'You mustn't hear them words again, sir,' ses he; 'don't go to sleep
again to-night. Stay up, an' we'll have a hand o' cards, and in the
morning you take a good stiff dose o' rhoobarb. Don't spoil one o' the
best trips we've ever had for the sake of a pennyworth of rhoobarb,' ses
he, pleading-like.
"'Mr. Salmon,' ses the cap'n, very angry, 'I shall not fly in the face
o' Providence in any such way.
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