Mr. French immediately moved aft, and, drawing himself up very stiffly, said to the orderly:
"Tell the captain that I have business with him."
The marine disappeared, and soon returned with a request that he would walk into the cabin. The captain was seated at his table, writing; but, as the mate entered, he dropped his pen, turned in his chair, and waited for him to make known his wants.
"Captain," began Mr. French, hesitatingly, for he scarcely knew how to commence the conversation, "I--I--I--have been reading the navy regulations, and I find that I have been abused."
"I asked you who had been abusing you, sir," interrupted the captain. "Answer my question, and make your explanations afterward."
"Well, sir, to come to the point, you have abused me, sir."
The captain started back in surprise, and looked at the mate for several moments, as if to make sure that he was in his right mind, and then quietly asked:
"In reprimanding me, sir. The navy regulations distinctly state that a commanding officer has no right to use harsh words to his subordinates; and I demand an apology."
"Can you furnish me with a copy of those regulations?"
"Yes, sir; Mr. Keys has them," replied the mate; and he left the cabin, and commenced searching for that individual.
We should remark that Mr. Keys was pretty well aware that he would be likely to get himself into hot water. Wishing to delay the interview between himself and the captain as long as possible, he had retreated to the hold, where he appeared to be very busily engaged; but, as soon as Mr. French made known his errand, he readily produced his book, glad indeed that he was to be let off without seeing the captain. The mate carried it into the cabin. The captain read over the article several times, and then arose from his seat, and, going to one of the after-ports, appeared to be busily engaged with his own thoughts. Mr. French stood watching him with a smile of triumph, certain that the captain had been worsted, and that he would soon receive the required apology; but, had he been a keen observer, he would have seen that the captain was convulsed with laughter, which he was vainly endeavoring to conceal. He easily saw through the trick, and it reminded him of the days when he was a midshipman, and had been implicated in similar jokes.