Part 29 (2/2)
”I shall have to do that anyway, sir.”
”Thank you, my lad.”
The captain saluted and pa.s.sed on.
”That boy is as graceful and self-possessed as if he had spent years in the service. I must keep my eye on him. I predict that he will be doing something worth while some of these days.”
Dan's face was flushed. He was pleased with himself. Sam glanced over at him and winked gravely.
”I wish I knew how to do things the way you do,” he said. ”Somehow my feet and hands don't fit the rest of my anatomy. I'm a thickhead and a landlubber, all in one.”
”You are all right, if you would only think so,” replied Dan.
After the noonday mess the boys were resting on the forward deck when Sam called the attention of his companion to a group of sailors on the port side, leaning against the rail engaged in earnest conversation. The spokesman was no other than Bill Kester. Bill was gesticulating. A sailor appeared to be opposing him in something.
”I wonder what's up?” mused Dan.
”Quarreling again, I guess,” decided Sam, rising and strolling forward where he leaned over the bow of the s.h.i.+p, gazing thoughtfully down into the turbulent sea. Now and then a thin shower of spray would mount high in the air and dash over him, the anch.o.r.ed s.h.i.+p having swung about until its bow was headed into the half-gale that was blowing up the coast.
After a time two jackies strolled over to where Dan was sitting, and leaned indolently against the forward twelve-inch turret.
”How's the s.h.i.+pmate to-day?” inquired one.
”Very well, thank you.”
”Feeling fit as a fiddle, eh?”
”Never better, though I do feel as if I had been eating paint all my life. I'm all red on the outside and white on the inside. My walls do not need any more dressing,” laughed Dan.
”Then we've got a proposition to make to you.”
”A what?”
”Proposition.”
”What is it?”
”It's usual on s.h.i.+pboard, when one party gets a grouch on against another, to meet according to rules and fight it out.”
”Well, what of it?”
”How'd you like to fight, matey?”
”No, thank you,” Dan replied, with considerable emphasis, the memory of his previous trouble still being fresh in mind. ”Whom do you want me to fight?”
”We haven't said we wanted you to fight anybody. We ain't very strong on having you fight somebody. Somebody wants to fight you, and we've been appointed a committee to come over and consult with you.”
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