"I cannot speak calmly to you now, and the sooner you're out of my sight the better for you! But stop a minute," he added, as if on after reflection.

"As you were present when I disrated Leigh--on the ground mainly of your false statements as to his having assaulted you without any provocation on your part, which has now been proved to have been false--it is only right that you should also be present at the restoration of the lad to his former post.

Leigh!" "Here, sir," I replied to this last hail of the skipper's, on his completing his reprimand to the mate.

I anticipated, of course, what was coming, and my heart gave an exultant thump, almost "leaping into my mouth," as the saying is.
"I'm sorry, my boy, I did you a wrong this afternoon," said Captain Billings, stretching out his hand kindly to me as he spoke.

"I hope, however, you'll forgive me, and bear no malice.