“It was Simpson who told the man that,” said he at length. “He dislikes me and takes no pains to conceal it. Before long he’ll have the crew demoralized. When an officer sets the example of insubordination the ship’s company rapidly follow in his wake.”
That night in the French harbor, the officer paced his quarter-deck with Ethan by his side. All was quiet; the gleam of ships’ lamps shot thinly across the dark waters; the low murmurous sound of the seamen came from the forward part of the vessel. The three lieutenants and some of the crew had gone ashore. Next day the commander, Ethan and Longsword were to start for Paris with the secret instructions for Benjamin Franklin.
Ethan saw that a cloud was upon the spirit of the great seaman, so he did not speak; at last the officer himself broke the silence.
“I have not yet thanked you,” said he. “But I do so now.”
“Thanked me,” exclaimed Ethan, in surprise.
“For defending my good name, I mean. I have had many enemies, my lad, and few friends; it is comforting to think that I have gained a new one.”
“I should think,” said Ethan, after a pause, “that one like you would have no lack of friends. There is not an American worthy of the title but what pronounces the name of John Paul Jones with admiration. You are known in every hamlet and town throughout the colonies; your deeds upon the sea in the cause of liberty are upon every lip.”
The moody captain smiled and patted his young companion upon the shoulder kindly.
“It’s kind of you to say this; and I appreciate it all the more because I know that you mean it. But fame does not always bring content, my boy, nor friends. Two years ago I should have been proud of the command of a ship like this, now I aspire to command fleets; and then, again, I sometimes catch myself wondering if the people who seem glad to grasp the hand of John Paul Jones, victor in some sea fights, would have been equally glad to have greeted plain John Paul, emigrant.”
They continued talking in this strain for some time. Longsword came on deck after a time and also began to pace slowly up and down, in the waist. At length the subject shifted to the secret instructions of Congress.
“There does not seem to be any one in the ship,” said Ethan, “who is at all familiar with the Lascar but Blake.”