Tom thought it might be possible that his friend the captain had been just a little “airy” in his dealings with the two officers from the Josephine, though he had never noticed any thing of the kind in O’Hara while they had been together in the steamer. Such an exhibition would not be very remarkable in a young man, placed in command of a steamer with the arbitrary control of thirty of his companions. He was determined to caution his friend in regard to the manifestation of any thing that could be construed into an overbearing or domineering spirit. He knew very well from experience, that such an appearance would excite opposition, if there was none in the beginning. “What does he object to?” repeated O’Hara. “He says he objects to the arrangement of the watches.” “What did you say to him?” asked Tom curiously, if not anxiously. “I only told him I was sorry he didn’t like it,” replied the captain, smiling, as though he thought he had answered the complaint very properly. “Did he say any thing more?” “Yes, he did: he added that he didn’t think there was any need of quarter-watches,” chuckled O’Hara; “and Clinch took the trouble to say he didn’t think so either: as if he considered it important that I should know the first and third officer were of the same mind on the subject.” O’Hara talked and chuckled and laughed like one who felt that he occupied a strong position. He was quite happy over it; for, if there was to be any trouble on board, he was altogether in the right, and the other party all in the wrong. “What did you say then?” inquired Tom Speers, desiring to know whether or not there was any foundation for his fears and suspicion. “I told them that showed we differed in opinion a little taste; and I smiled as swately as though I was spaking to Miss Louise in the cabin below. And that reminds me to say I think the girl is a little swate on you, Tom, my boy, since you pulled her out of the say,” said the captain, getting excited as he proceeded, and relapsing into his Irish brogue. “Never mind the girl,” added Tom impatiently, though he blushed a little as he turned away to wipe off the dampness that had gathered on his face from the fog. “I am not one of your romantic pups who think a girl ought to be his wife because he has rendered her some little service.” “Faix, it was no little service you rendered her; for she was sure to be drowned if you hadn’t got to her with the life-buoy as soon as you did.” “Never mind that now, Capt. O’Hara,” interposed the young hero. “Oh! you are not on duty now; and you needn’t measure off your words into lengths with me just now,” said O’Hara, with a laugh. “Do you think Gregory is discontented?” asked Tom. “If his words come from his heart, he is; but that is his fault,” replied the captain very lightly. “If he don’t like the arrangement of the watches, he can’t help himself; for I am the commander of this ship.”