He, however, without a chance to “splice the main-brace” to steady his nerves, braced up as best he could, and reported himself to his commander.
“Mr. Clemmons, may I ask you if you actually saw the occurrence ashore last evening in which Cadet Midshipman Merrill and Breslin had a set-to?”
“Yes, sir, I was, as I said, talking to Breslin at the time, for he was importuning me to give him some money.”
“Then I beg to say, Mr. Clemmons, that for sixty days you are allowed no leaves ashore, in ports we may visit, as your condition at the time of the affair was such that you could not see straight, or viewed it with purposely biased eyes.”
“But Captain De Long, may I ask, sir, if this censure of me is from having heard the report of others?”
“It is, sir; I have the facts from witnesses of the affair. I have no more to say, Mr. Clemmons.”
Scott Clemmons felt crushed at the rebuke, but mustered up courage to say:
“I beg, Captain De Long, that you will remember that Merrill is not friendly toward me, sir, and his statement----”
“Silence, sir! Mr. Merrill reported his act at once to me, and did not even mention your name as having been the friend of Breslin at the time, while you, on the contrary, never friendly toward Mr. Merrill, saw his actions only in a prejudiced way. I have no more to say, Mr. Clemmons.”
Scott Clemmons dared say no more, so departed from the cabin with the knowledge that he had made a mistake in reporting an affair in which he had no concern.
Then, too, he recalled a disagreeable meeting before him, as Bemis Perry had said that he desired to see him.
That young sailor was awaiting his coming, aware, seemingly, that the captain would not detain him long.
“You desired to see me, Perry?” he said, his face flushed and angry.
“Yes, as I told you,” was the quiet response.
“May I ask if you reported to Captain De Long that I was present yesterday in that disgraceful scene at the Astor House?”
“See here, Clemmons,” and the words of the cadet were spoken very quickly: “I am not a tattler, nor am I an informer. Captain De Long sent for me, and asked for my version of the affair.”
“Merrill, like the man he is, reported his action ashore, but never referred to you, and Captain De Long asked who was Breslin’s companion, and I told him that you were, for, as a fellow cadet, you certainly would be willing to prove, as a witness, that Breslin was the aggressor, and was justly punished. Since I came aboard ship I learn that others saw the affair.”