"So I'm here to say I'm sorry." Another big gulp.

Troop heaved himself slowly off the locker he was sitting on and
held out an eleven-inch hand. "I mistrusted 'twould do you sights o'
good; an' this shows I weren't mistook in my jedgments." A
smothered chuckle on deck caught his ear. "I am very seldom
mistook in my jedgments." The eleven-inch hand closed on
Harvey's, numbing it to the elbow. "We'll put a little more gristle to
that 'fore we've done with you, young feller; an' I don't think any
worse of ye fer anythin' thet's gone by. You wasn't fairly
responsible. Go right abaout your business an' you won't take no
hurt."

"You're white," said Dan, as Harvey regained the deck, flushed to
the tips of his ears.

"I don't feel it," said he.

"I didn't mean that way. I heard what dad said. When dad allows he
don't think the worse of any man, dad's give himself away. He
hates to be mistook in his jedgments, too. Ho! ho! Onct dad has a
jedgment, he'd sooner dip his colours to the British than change
it. I'm glad it's settled right eend up. Dad's right when he says
he can't take you back. It's all the livin' we make here - fishin'.
The men'll be back like sharks after a dead whale in
ha'af an hour."

"What for?" said Harvey.
"Supper, o' course. Don't your stummick tell you? You've a heap to