"These creoles, over whom you've held a hot poker all winter, are crazy to be turned loose upon you; and you know that they've got good cause to feel like giving you the extreme penalty.

They'll give it to you without a flinch if they get the chance.

You've done enough." Hamilton whirled about and glared ferociously.
"Helm, what do you mean ?" he demanded in a voice as hollow as it was full of desperate passion.
The genial Captain laughed, as if he had heard a good joke.
"You won't catch any fish if you swear, and you look blasphemous," he said with the lightness of humor characteristic of him at all times.
"You'd better say a prayer or two.

Just reflect a moment upon the awful sins you have committed and--" A crash of coalescing volleys from every direction broke off his levity.

Clark was sending his response to Hamilton's lofty note.