In mischief yesterday ?" "I'm afraid so, father." "Well, out with it.

You know my old saying, `The truth can be blamed, but can never be shamed.'" "Yes, father." "Well, I'm sure my boy could not bear to be shamed." "Oh, no, father." "Of course not," he said quietly.

"And I'm sure you've got manly feeling enough not to be afraid of being blamed; so out with it, sir, and take your punishment, whatever it is, as the son of a sailor should." "Yes, father," I exclaimed with a sort of gasp, and then I told him what we had done with the powder.
"Humph! Nice fellows!" he exclaimed as I ended.

"Why, you might have blown each other to pieces.

Powder wants using only by an experienced man, and young Chowne, who seems to have played first fiddle, seems to know more about his father's powders than that out of a keg.