There, now! At last I’ve done it in earnest; I don’t think he’ll forget that thrashing. [_To some one in the other room._] What do you say?—_I_ say you are a foolish mother! You make excuses for him, and encourage him in all his naughtiness——Not naughtiness? What do you call it then? To steal out of the house at night and go to sea in a fishing-boat; to remain out till late in the day, and put me in mortal terror, as if I hadn’t enough anxiety without that. And the young rascal dares to threaten me with running away! Just let him try it!—You? No, I daresay not; you don’t seem to care much what becomes of him. I believe if he were to break his neck——! Oh, indeed? But it happens that _I_ need some one to carry on my work in the world; it would not suit me to be left childless. Don’t argue, Betty; I have said it, once for all; he is not to leave the house. [_Listens._] Hush, don’t let people notice anything. KRAP _comes in from the right._ KRAP. Can you spare me a moment, Consul. BERNICK. [_Throws away the cane._] Of course, of course Have you come from the shipyard? KRAP. Just this moment. H’m—— BERNICK. Well? Nothing wrong with the _Palm Tree_, I hope? KRAP. The _Palm Tree_ can sail to-morrow, but—— BERNICK. The _Indian Girl_, then? I might have guessed that that stiff-necked—— KRAP. The _Indian Girl_ can sail to-morrow, too; but—I don’t think she will get very far. BERNICK. What do you mean? KRAP. Excuse me, Consul, that door is ajar, and I think there is some one in the room—— BERNICK. [_Shuts the door._] There then. But what is the meaning of all this secrecy? KRAP. It means this: I believe Aune intends to send the _Indian Girl_ to the bottom, with every soul on board. BERNICK. Good heavens! how can you think——? KRAP. I can explain it in no other way, Consul. BERNICK. Well then, tell me as shortly as you can—— KRAP. I will. You know how things have been dragging in the yard since we got the new machines and the new inexperienced workmen? BERNICK. Yes, yes. KRAP. But this morning, when I went down there, I noticed that the repairs on the American had been going at a great rate. The big patch in her bottom—the rotten place, you know—— BERNICK. Yes, yes; what about it? KRAP.