Not far. The galley door was open, and close at hand. Into it he darted like a fox into its hole, and Steve stood alone, covered with feathers, to face the captain and Mr Handscombe, who, hearing the scuffling forward, hurried up to see the cause. "Highly creditable, upon my word!" cried Captain Marsham, frowning. "Could not you find anything more sensible to do than to get into this disgraceful quarrel with the ship's boy?" Steve stood breathing hard, flushed with anger and mortification. "I'd try a sweep next time, Stephen," said the doctor sarcastically; "he would not come off worse upon you than this fellow has done." "He insulted and struck me," stammered Steve. "You would not have had me stand still and submit to that, sir?" "I don't want to hear anything about it," said the captain sternly; "it is disgraceful, and I gave you credit for knowing better." The captain walked back to the companion hatch and descended to the cabin, leaving Steve, the doctor, Hamish, and Andrew looking at each other. "Well, sir," said the doctor, "you've done it this time. Have you any idea what an object you look?" "No," said Steve, in a tone of voice which told of his mortification. "Go to your cabin, then, and look in the glass. I should prescribe a little water, too!" "Hadn't I better jump overboard for it, then?" cried Steve bitterly. "Bah! Rubbish! Don't talk nonsense!" cried the doctor, catching the lad by the arm. "Why, what's the matter?" said the mate, coming up hurriedly. "Oh, nothing much. We've had an accident, and spilt some feathers about the deck, and it has made the captain angry about the way in which it was done. Have them cleared up, man. Come along, Steve lad; and don't look like that," he whispered, as he half dragged the lad away. CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. MORAL SURGERY. "How easy it is to get into trouble!" said Steve; "and what a watch one has to keep over one's self! There I was, as happy and contented as could be, only a little while ago, and now everything's miserable. I wouldn't care if the captain had not spoken to me like that." "Go and tell him you're sorry," said the doctor. "I can't." "But you must, my lad. You were in the wrong, weren't you?" "I don't think so. It was all a bit of fun. I never expected that the boy would turn like that." "Well, wasn't it foolish of you to go making a playmate of such a rough, common lad? I'm not snobbish, Steve, but I think people get on better who make friends in their own class; and if your poor father could have seen you fighting a--" "Oh, don't, don't!" cried Steve, "pray! I know I behaved like a blackguard, and it served me right." "There, now you're behaving like a human donkey, my lad, and talking nonsense. Put it aside now. You're hot and excited. Let me give you a sedative draught." "Oh, Mr Handscombe!" cried the lad passionately. "To talk of physic at a time like this!"