“It won’t do for me to step in between the man and his engine,” I remonstrated, mildly. “Yes, it will! I tell you to do it; and if you don’t do it, you shall suffer for it.” “Let us argue the point a little, major,” I replied. “Will you do what I tell you, or not?” roared he, swelling up as big as a major general. “You must excuse me, major, but I can’t take the engine out of the engineer’s hands, without the captain’s orders.” “I will let you know that this boat is my father’s, and I can do with it as I please. If you won’t start it, I will do so myself!” said the juvenile magnate, desperately, as he rushed into the engine-room, and seized hold of the working-bar. “You musn’t touch the engine,” said the man in charge, as he took hold of Tommy’s arm, and, with as little force as was necessary, thrust him out of the room. Tommy was the maddest major I ever saw. CHAPTER VIII. CHARGE BAYONETS! Major Tommy, in my judgment, was more inclined to have his own way than he was to annihilate the Wimpletonians by crushing them under the wheels of the steamer. He had been irritated because the captain did not obey his order; but, I think, if the boat had gone ahead at his imperial command, he would have been the first to stop her. I could not believe that he was so diabolically wicked as to run over the boats, and sacrifice the lives of a dozen or more even of his enemies. If it had been Waddie, the matter would have been different, and I should have been more credulous. When the captain opposed him, he flew to the engineer; but I am confident that, if the man had given the wheel a single turn, Tommy would have ordered him to stop her. Neither the captain nor the engineer knew that he did not intend to do all he threatened; and I am afraid, if the wheels had been started, the mischief would have been done, whatever the little magnate meant, or did not mean. I was very sorry to be dragged into the difficulty, for Tommy and I had thus far been very good friends. However, I had no doubts in regard to the correctness of my position. Forbush, the engineer, had gently, very gently, thrust Tommy out of the engine-room. By this time, all of Company B had gathered around the little major, intent upon beholding the row. The juvenile magnate was boiling over with rage, and threatened Captain Underwood, the engineer, and myself with total annihilation. Every one of us should lose his situation, and be forever deprived of the power to obtain further employment. “Come, Tommy, keep cool,” said Faxon, trying to smooth down the wrinkled fur on the badger’s back. “I won’t keep cool! I have been insulted, and I will teach the fellows who and what I am. If I tell the captain of this boat to run over the island, he shall do it,” stormed Tommy, so angry that he could hardly keep from crying. “Be reasonable, Tommy,” added Skotchley, with his usual quiet dignity. “We don’t want to kill anybody.”