The following day exactly the same thing happened, and he had to content himself with his breakfast and supper rations for the day.

He perfectly understood the meaning of it.

In smartness and activity he was so far beyond comparison superior to any of the other foretop hands, that the boatswain had not been able to find any excuse for subjecting him to punishment: he was going to try and hit him in another way.

On his lonely watch that night Salve decided what he should do if the trick was practised a third time upon him.

It would be better to bring things to a crisis at once than have his strength gradually exhausted by continued insufficiency of food.
The same order being given at the same time next day, he carried it out as speedily as he could, and hurried on then to the round-house, where the others were already at their dinner, with a bowl of meat and soup to every two men.
He sat down by the side of the Irishman, who he saw had a bowl to himself.
"Put the bowl this way," he said, coolly.
The Irishman merely looked at him contemptuously.