He closed the after door; then moved slowly to the forward one and closed that.

He sat down; I stood before him.

He looked at me some little time, then said-- 'So you have been fighting Mr.Brown ?' I answered meekly-- 'Yes, sir.' 'Do you know that that is a very serious matter ?' 'Yes, sir.' 'Are you aware that this boat was plowing down the river fully five minutes with no one at the wheel ?' 'Yes, sir.' 'Did you strike him first ?' 'Yes, sir.' 'What with ?' 'A stool, sir.' 'Hard ?' 'Middling, sir.' 'Did it knock him down ?' 'He--he fell, sir.' 'Did you follow it up?
Did you do anything further ?' 'Yes, sir.' 'What did you do ?' 'Pounded him, sir.' 'Pounded him ?' 'Yes, sir.' 'Did you pound him much ?--that is, severely ?' 'One might call it that, sir, maybe.' 'I'm deuced glad of it! Hark ye, never mention that I said that.

You have been guilty of a great crime; and don't you ever be guilty of it again, on this boat.

BUT--lay for him ashore! Give him a good sound thrashing, do you hear?
I'll pay the expenses.