266 FOLLOW THE WHALE 



before encountered such behavior on his or any other ship. That an 

 ordinary seaman should address his captain at all, except under orders, 

 was unthinkable enough, but that he should persist in doing so when 

 he had been commanded to leave, and that he should heap insolence 

 upon insufferance by presuming to instruct an officer in his duties, 

 practically calling him a fool to his face, was just more than the cap- 

 tain could comprehend. Had the man's behavior been even a little less 

 outrageous, he might have been thrown into irons, but it was so un- 

 precedented that the captain was left speechless. And while he was 

 seething, the door opened and his first mate stepped in. 



Mate Angus MacNeil had a red beard, light-blue eyes like gimlets, 

 and tiny feet on which he moved about quickly and without sound. 

 Captain Hardwicke had a great respect for him and placed the ut- 

 most confidence in his judgment and counsel. One look at his face 

 now showed that all was definitely not well. 



"I think she's going, sir," MacNeil announced simply. "The bal- 

 last's awash and she's opening up somewhere. The pressure's coming 

 that hard the noo." 



The captain's rage abated abruptly and he looked from MacNeil 

 to the seaman Bates and then back again. He asked casually, "How 

 long have you been aboard. Bates?" 



"Nigh on ten year, sir," the man replied, bobbing and pulling time 

 and time again on his forelock. 



"And he's the vurruh best aboard," Angus MacNeil put in hur- 

 riedly, sensing the situation. 



"In that case, he may go," said Captain Hardwicke, "but he should 

 learn to keep his mouth shut." And he turned his attention to the 

 message which he still held in his hand. Then, as his eyes fell on what 

 had been written there by the officer of the watch, he let out a noise 

 like a bark. 



"Wait!" he snapped. "I've got a job for you. Bates, that'll give you 

 a chance to do all the talking you want. Listen to this, Mr. MacNeil. 

 The Truelove is caving in and Captain Barron requests all hands we 

 can spare to offload her. We've got to get the men over there before 

 we need her crew over here . . . that is, if I heard you correctly," 

 he added. 



"You did that," replied the mate. 



"Then it's up to you. Bates, to get your scurvy mates over to the 



