"
"A stowaway?" said the captain, bending his brows. "He must have got
some of the crew to hide him aboard. You'd better make a clean breast of
it, my lad. Who are your confederates?"
Captain Nugent shook with fury. The second mate had turned away, with
his hand over his mouth and a suspicious hunching of his shoulders, while
the steward, who had been standing by, beat a hasty retreat and collapsed
behind the chart-room.
"If you don't put me ashore," said Nugent, restraining his passion by a
strong effort, "I'll take proceedings against you for crimping me, the
moment I reach port. Get a boat out and put me aboard that smack."
He pointed as he spoke to a smack which was just on their beam, making
slowly for the harbour.
"When you've done issuing orders," said the captain, in an indifferent
voice, "perhaps you'll explain what you are doing aboard my crag."
Captain Nugent gazed at the stern of the fast-receding smack; Sunwich was
getting dim in the distance and there was no other sail near. He began
to realize that he was in for a long voyage.
"I awoke this morning and found myself in a bunk in vow fo'c's'le," he
said, regarding Hardy steadily. "However I got there is probably best
known to yourself. I hold you responsible for the affair."
"Look here my lad," said Captain Hardy, in patronizing tones, "I don't
know how you got aboard my ship and I don't care.
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