“You may as well make up your minds as to what you count on bein’ aboard this ship, ’cause the matter’s got to be settled mighty soon,” the old gunner said, solemnly. “I took it for granted that you was rated as boys; but if it so be you’re reckonin’ on makin’ the cruise for pleasure, an’ settin’ yourselves above the others with high an’ lofty airs ’cause of your relationship, why, then, we’ll have a plain understandin’ from the start. It ain’t allowed that passengers may mosey ’round here for’ard,--leastways it never has been on any ship I was aboard of; so you’ll excuse me for takin’ the liberty of settin’ you about a sailorman’s duties, otherwise I’ll call the crew of the captain’s gig to escort you into the cabin, where you seem to belong.” The old man tugged at the lock of hair over his forehead, as he scraped with one foot, in what he believed to be the proper kind of a bow, and started aft as if to carry out his threat. Now, although I had never been to sea, I knew enough of a sailorman’s life to understand that if the remainder of the crew got the slightest inkling of what had just happened, our lives would be far from pleasant during the cruise; therefore, I checked him by clutching at his arm, imploringly, as I cried: “We were in the wrong when we complained, Master Josh. Surely you have known us long enough to believe that we no more intend to shirk our duties than to play the part of passengers. It was because you had changed so completely that we came to you with the questions in our mouths.” “Accordin’ to your talk, it seems that you understand the matter without my goin’ into very many explanations,” the old man said, grimly. “What you have said is the same as an explanation, sir,” Simon meekly replied. “If you will please set us about some task we’ll agree never to raise another question, however changed your manner may be.” “Well, I allow it’s jest as well if we let it drop at that,” the old gunner said, thoughtfully, “an’ for the sake of your peace of mind in the future, I’d have you youngsters understand that, once we’re under way, you will be expected to do such work as is given to boys, without turnin’ rusty in case one of us don’t happen to handle you with gloves on. Sailorin’ is a serious business, but nothin’ as compared with privateerin’. On a cruise like the one we’re countin’ to make, it’s a matter of jumpin’ to orders from the youngest to the oldest, an’ no back talk. I had the idee that you was to be took under my wing, so to speak.” “Have you seen Simon’s father or my uncle?” I asked, quickly, now beginning to understand why the old man had turned about so suddenly in his behaviour. “It may be I had a bit of a chin with one or the other of ’em last night.” “And you were told to jump down on us the first thing, this morning, so that we might know our stations without being allowed time in which to make fools of ourselves?”