"I'd try and knock his head off!" cried the doctor hotly. "I--that is-- I mean--I don't approve of fighting--I--hang the boy! How stupid of me! I mean I think I should have complained to the captain, and asked him to have the fellow flogged." "Captains on board ships like this can't have the boys flogged," said Steve drily. "Punished, then." "You said what you would do, sir, at first, and then turned it off. I did the same, and you've been blaming me." "Well, well; yes, yes, Steve, I did; but let's leave that question alone, my lad. It's one that has never yet been thoroughly settled on account of its difficulty. I don't approve of fighting, but there are times when--that is--you see it's a very awkward question that we had better leave. I spoke hastily, and I'm afraid that I have done more harm than good. Come, you'll shake hands with me?" Steve eagerly held out his. "That's right," said the doctor, gripping the extended palm. "And you'll take my advice?" Steve shook his head. "I can't yet, sir." "Steve, my boy, you send quite a chill through me," cried the doctor angrily. "I'm as cold as if the weather had suddenly changed and a biting wind were coming off the ice." "My head's quite hot, sir; but it does feel as if it were cold." "Of course. Nerves, Steve, nerves; unwonted excitement. Hah! Here's the captain coming into the cabin. Now's your time." Steve shook his head. "You must go now. Here, I'll run and tell him you want to speak to him." "No, sir; pray don't." The door opened, and Captain Marsham came in quickly. "Come on deck, Handscombe," he said, as he stood at the door putting on a pea-jacket. "You had better have a coat, for there is a remarkable change. The wind has turned nearly due north, and I'm afraid we are going to have a heavy snow-blast. Quick! the change is worth seeing." He did not even glance at Steve, but turned away, and the doctor followed, to stop at the door. "There, go and wash yourself, my lad. It has turned cold, but let's get this over; we have no time for quarrelling here on board ship." He hurried out, and left Steve in the cabin alone with his bitter thoughts. CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. NATURE IN THE NORTH. "All this trouble about nothing," muttered Steve, as soon as he was alone; and he mechanically went to the little washing-sink to remove the traces of the fight. His actions were slow for a few moments, but they soon grew quicker, for he could hear Captain Marsham giving orders in a sharp, peremptory way. There was an icy wind blowing through the open window and a peculiar whistling sound in the air, and as he hurriedly washed he knew by the rattling noises, faintly as they reached his ears, that the men were getting the furnace going and shovelling on coals.