"Can't help it; got a cold, I s'pose," he cried. "But I say, stop it now; we want to be friends. Tell us what the luff said." "Precious little," I replied. "I did all the speaking till we went up on the quarter-deck." "Don't listen to him," cried Smith, growing wroth with me. "I never saw such cheek. One tries to be friends with him, but it's of no use; directly you open your mouth he jumps down your throat." "Then you shouldn't have such a big mouth, Smithy," I said sharply, and then the storm burst. Tanner roared with laughter, for the width of Smith's mouth had often been food for our mirth; and, as Barkins afterwards said, my remark came out so pat. "Look here," cried Smith, "I'm not going to stand this sort of thing. You may be fool enough to put up with it, but I won't." "If you call me a fool I'll punch your head, Smithy," growled Barkins. "No, you won't," was the retort; "and that's the way you take sides against me, and encourage the miserable little beggar in his impudent ways? Now then, you Herrick, you've got to go down on your knees and beg my pardon, and then tell me everything the skipper and the first luff said." "When?" I asked coolly. "When? Why, now, directly," cried Smith fiercely. "Now then, no nonsense," he cried, seizing me by the collar; but I wrested myself away, and in the slight struggle sent him staggering against Barkins. "Now then, keep off me, please," growled Barkins. "Keep off yourself; why don't you get out of the way?" "How was I to know that a blundering idiot was coming up against me?" "It'll tell you when I've done with the Gnat," said Smith angrily; for I had unintentionally hurt his arm. "Now you, Skeeter." "Let him alone," said Barkins gruffly. "When I've done with him," said Smith; "you could have had first go at him if you had liked." "I don't want to hit the little fellow, I'm not overbearing like you are. Let him alone, I say." "I shall let him alone when I choose," retorted Smith fiercely. "I'm not going to let our junior ride roughshod over me, if you're fool enough to." "I shall be fool enough to kick you out of the cabin if you touch him," cried Barkins angrily. "I won't have him bullied; and it was a mean sneaking thing to go telling tales as you did to old Dishy." "Look here," cried Smith, "if any one is a sneak it's you, for harking back and taking the miserable little beggar's side." "Never mind about that; you let him alone." "Oh, I say, Tanner," I said, "don't quarrel with him about me. What he said did no harm. Mr Reardon was as friendly as could be." "That's a cracker," cried Smith sharply. At that moment a marine came to the door. "First lieutenant wants to see Mr Herrick directly." "Yes; where is he?" I said, smiling--purposely, of course. "With the cap'n, sir, on the quarter-deck." "All right; I'll be there directly." The man saluted and marched off, while I followed to the door, where I turned, thrust in my head, and said banteringly--