But there were lots of times after that when I _didn't_ think it." "Wasn't old Bullfrog amiable, then ?" "He was never particularly partial to me, you know," answered Martin.
"The first term I was at school--before you came--I remember I caught him out at a cricket match.

He was always so sure of making top score! He called me an impudent youngster in those days." "He never was too good to you, I remember.

I was one of the chaps he let alone." "Well, he went on calling me an impudent youngster," continued Martin, "and all that sort of thing--and he tried to set the other fellows against me.

Oh, it isn't all jam in the Royal Navy! You haven't left school when you go _there_, and the gunroom isn't always just exactly paradise, you know! And if your seniors try to make it hot for you, why--they can!" "So you and Bullfrog didn't exactly hit it off ?" "Oh, well, he was sub-lieutenant this last voyage, and you can't stand up to your senior officer as you can to your schoolfellows, don't you see ?" There was a minute's silence, broken by an eager request.

"But tell us about the battle.